Imphal, November 10: Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has implemented a surrender policy meant exclusively for the militants operating in the North Eastern States including Manipur.

The main features of the new policy include a fixed deposit amount of Rs 1 lakh in the bank in the account of each of the surrendered militant.

Disclosing this to The Sangai Express, a reliable source said the new policy known as 'Surrender cum Rehabilitation of Militant in North Eastern States Scheme' has been implemented by the Union Ministry after revising the earlier policy.

Whether the new policy would be able to attract militants to lay down arms and join the mainstream is still is big question, the source wondered while adding that there are not many new features in the revised policy.

Nonetheless, the new policy has revised the duration of confining surrendered UGs in Government custody from 1 year to 3 years, providing Rs 2000 as stipend during the custody period, besides depositing a sum of Rs 1 lakh in the bank in the name of the surrendered militant which could be encashed only after three years, the source elaborated.

However, there is no mention of providing job to the surrendered militant, the source said, adding that incentives given to the militants who surrender along with arms remain the same.

Implemented since May this year, 12 militants got the rehabilitation facilities in Manipur so far, the source said, adding a Rehabilitation Centre has also been set up at Lamphel since September.

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