Imphal, February 28 2009: The fourth round of meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) with leaders of Kuki UG outfits namely KNO and UPF which have signed Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Government of India and Manipur was held here today.

During the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary DS Poonia, who is also chairman of the JMG, Joint Secretary (North East) of Union Home Ministry Nabin Burman, IG Intelligence LM Khoute and officials of Army and Assam Rifles were present.

According to a reliable source, matters related to issuing identity cards to the cadres of KNO and UPF, extension of monthly stipend and functioning of the designated camps were discussed.

Even if KNO had claimed to have 1500 armed cadres while 2500 armed cadres by the UPF, during the meeting the Government proposed that identity cards would be issued to 1000 armed cadres of KNO and 1200 armed cadres of UPF and no identity cards would be issued to the unarmed cadres.

The representatives of the two outfits raised objection to cutting down the number of the cadres who would be given identity cards and said that the Government can conduct spot verification if there is any doubt on the figure claimed by the two outfits.

Nonetheless, assurance had been given from the side of the Government that the number of identity cards to be increased may be increased after the armed cadres started staying in the designated camps.

According to the source, half the task of preparing the identity cards has been completed.

But none of the representative leaders of the UG groups did not press for starting distribution of the identity cards during the meeting.

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