HPC (D) cadres march down from Manipur to surrender

Special Correspondent

Silchar, April 8: After the signing of peace pact with Mizoram Government on April 3, as agreed upon it is time for the cadres to lay down their arms and ammunitions. According to a source, around 103 cadres of HPC (D) have marched down in full fatigues from their base camp of Manipur to reach Sesawmg, 40 km from Aizawl, for surrender on April 13. They moved through the upper reaches of Barak Valley under the leadership of LT Hmar, working president. After coming down from the hills, the cadres boarded the mechanized boats, three in number, from a place under Lakhipur sub division and sailed through river Barak towards the venue of surrender this morning.

It is to be recollected that H Zosangbera, chairman of the outfit, signed the treaty on behalf of their outfit while Aravind Ray, Chief Secretary of Mizoram, inked the agreement for Mizoram Government. The main thrust of the settlement is to maintain peace forever. The Government of Mizoram will take steps for relief and rehabilitation of all the underground per sonne hailing from the state of Mizoram coming over ground. Rehabilitation scheme will be implemented by the state from its own resources or by exploring avenues from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

HPC (D) undertake not to extend any support to any insurgent groups by supply of arms or providing protection or in any other manner. It shall also endeavour to implement all the provisions of the pact. HPC (D) is also committed to restoration of peace and normalcy in Mizoram. It also agrees to end all underground activities and bring out all the members of the outfit with their arms, ammunitions and equipments to ensure return to civil life, to abjure violence and help in the process of restoration of normalcy.

As reported earlier, the upgraded Sinlung Hills Development Council will ensure greater degree of socio-economic, political and cultural development of the people in the north and northeastern parts of Mizoram. The people of Mizoram have welcomed the end of violence and the signing of pact after long 24 years. At the surrender ceremony, cadres while bidding farewell to jungle life will surrender all their arms and ammunitions which include AK-47, AK-56, M-16 Rifle, SLR, automatic pistol, light machine gun, gadgets, wireless devices among others. L T Hmar described the surrender as home coming ceremony at which Chief Minister and Home Minister of Mizoram are expected to be present and the arms lay down ceremony will be headed by Zosangbera Hmar.