Jan 11, 2025: Notwithstanding the state’s own cabinet decision and the state assembly resolution adopted (on Feb 29, 2024, to urge the center) to abrogate SoO Agreement with Kuki-Zo militants, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has alleged that an amount of 6.25 crore was released by state government to the HPC(D), a militant group under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement.
Addressing the media on Saturday at Congress Bhawan in Imphal, the MPCC President K Meghachandra claims that an amount of Rs 6.27 crore was given in July 2024 to Hmar Peoples Convention (Democratic) through a cheque by the state government from the umbrella scheme of Modernization of Police Forces in the midst of violent crisis.
And the said cheque released to HPC (D), was issued in the name of the names of one Lalneikung and Joshua on July 9, 2024, said Meghachandra. Moreover, the said release of the amount also violated the guidelines of the umbrella scheme of Modernization of Police Forces, he added. The State Congress president also alleged that the amount that was released at the height of the violent crisis, could have been used in procuring arms and ammunition.
The Congress president also alleged that, before the May 3 2023 crisis, the state government had fraudulently released Rs 27.38 crore to militant groups under SoO agreement in 2022 and Congress had been complaining about the said release since March, 2022 and demanded at the state assembly for thorough investigation by the Auditor General of India into the fraudulent release of money to militant groups under SoO agreement, he said.
