Six underground cadres of different outfits laid down arms before state police here on Tuesday.

Three surrendered militants were from the People's Liberation Army (PLA), two of Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and one of United People's Party of Kangleipak (UPPK).

They have been identified as Wangba, H. Gyaneshwar and L Priyobarta alias Meino Singh of PLA, R K Naocha of UPPK and N. Dolen and H. Ngongo of KCP.

All militant deposited their arms, which included a US-made M-16 rifle, an AK-47 rifle and four 9mm pistols with several rounds of live ammunitions.

Addressing the gathering, Y Joy Kumar Singh, Director General of Police (DGP), Manipur said that these people join militant groups basically for money.

He alleged that extortions from teachers of colleges and schools located within the greater Imphal areas were carried out by overground members of underground outfits.

"They were paid for their services. Government is taking up necessary corrective measure to check it and to make education sector a free zone," he added. (ANI)