Ex rebels’ seek transparency

TURA, MAY 21: The disbanded breakaway faction of A’chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC-B) today said that the government’s claim of rehabilitation package to 18 of its former cadres were baseless.

“Looks like government sanctioned our packages to other militants”, said Deepan Momin, secretary of A’chik Matgrik, a social organisation comprising members of the former cadres of ANVC-B.

Momin said that if their claims are true they should disclose the name of the selected disbanded members of the ANVC-B. “The government did not submit the list of eligible cadres inspite of our request. We could not forward the account numbers till now because government did not give us the list of selected cadres”, Momin added.

He argued how could the government sanction the package without the list and name of the beneficiaries. “Who are these cadres? Government must come clean on the names of these cadres and also justify why they are not maintaining transparency on availing the packages to our cadres when Centre has already sanctioned it”, Momin asked.

Stating that 51 cadres of the disbanded United A’chik Liberation Army (UALA) were given Rs. 2.5 lakh each as rehabilitation package, Momin expressed concern if the sanction for ANVC-B was given to UALA.

Momin said that while ANVC cadres were given Rs 1.5 lakh rehabilitation package, why UALA was given Rs. 2.5 lakh and questioned on alleged “serious anomalies” in distribution of packages to the former militants.

“Government seems to have sanctioned the packages meant for the ANVC and ANVC- B Cadres to UALA and others. Otherwise, why is Government not giving us the list of eligible cadres selected for the packages?” he asked.

“Government is deliberately attempting a doubtful technique against us, which is an atrocity against which we will not stoop down. None of the ANVC-B cadres ever surrendered to the Government during our active days that is on record”, he said.

He also challenged that the former cadres of the outfit will fight for their rights. “We are waiting for the meeting assured by Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary, North East in-charge in the Ministry of Home Affairs”, he stated.