Imphal, October 30 2008: Decrying alleged discriminatory attitude of the Government towards them, surrenderees of various underground organisations living in the commando barrack who sustained injuries in the October 21 night bomb blast near the gate of Ragailong village have demanded equal treatment and attention like other injured victims.

Talking to mediapersons at the commando barrack here this afternoon, Haobijam Sova informed that one surrenderee was killed while nine other including himself sustained serious injuries in the bomb blast that occurred in a high security zone like Ragailong village.

Among the injured, condition of three of them is still very serious while another has bomb splinters all over his body.

Yet they have not been taken to any hospital for necessary treatment and operation citing security reason, thus forced to remain languishing in the barrack.

The injured surrenderees should also be taken to the hospital and given the same sort of medical treatment that is being given to other injured victims in RIMS, JN Hospital and Shija Hospital, Sova demanded.

It is said that at present there are in all 37 surrenderees in the commando barrack who have been recruited as Followers of 4th IRB by a Government order issued in 2005.But none of them have been given the joining form.

The monthly allowance of Rs 2000 each given to these surrenderees who laid down arms in 2001 have also not been allegedly given by the Government after the first two/three months.

So they have been either engaging themselves in some suitable trades or taking the help of their respective families to survive.

Adding to the difficulty, the recent bomb blast that left many of them injured/death has made their woes brimful.

Sova said that the injured and deceased surrenderees should be left out from the announcement of the Government for providing financial assistance to all the bomb blast victims.

The Government should also provide employment even if it is the post of the sweeper to the next of kin of the bereaved family of the surrenderee.

Along with trying to bring the armed UGs to the mainstream, the Government should ensure rehabilitation of the surrendered UGs, he pointed out.

Having the last word, Sova said, even if they have strayed away from the mainstream at one time, now they would like to lead a normal life and bring up their children properly.

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