Imphal, May 23: Even as Heirok villagers are in dilemma with regard to accepting arms by the SPO personnel following reports of the Government planning to utilise the SPOs in counter-insurgency operations contrary to the villagers' initial demand for arms to protect themselves, officials of the Assam Rifles and BSF today involved a media team said to be of national newspapers and took interviews/bytes from the families of the victims of the Thabal Chongba incident on March 24 .

While expressing reservations over the initiative of the AR/BSF authorities for the interview without prior consent or approval, JAC president Khundrakpam Ibomcha asserted that they would not accept the plan for setting up SPOs if the Government is unwilling to agree on the five points proposed by the JAC on the issue.

However, they would accept State Police Force, for self defence, he added.

The interview was conducted at the campus of Heirok Part II Mayai Leikai Primary School at around 1 pm.

a village elder whose interview had been taken by the media team said that the security team confined all the passers-by including passengers of public cariers and pedestrians since around 10 am.

The total number of people was around 200 .

The media team arrived at around 1 pm and sped away after completing their jobs within half an hour.

Getting information regarding the interview, a team of State media also reached the spot at around 2 pm.

However, there was nobody at the campus with the exception of some locals.

The village elder whose bytes had been taken revealed to the local media team that the visiting national media team enquired about how he was injured, and whether he likes the existence of revolutionaries or not.

Victim of the Heirok firing Thokchom Romesh's mother, Bimolini conveyed that the media team quizzed why she wants to accept arm, and whether she likes revolutionaries or not.

Later, interacting with the local media team, the JAC president Ibomcha asserted that with today's development, Heirok villagers are suspicious that security forces are trying to provide weapons to the villagers on the basis of the opinion taken from some villagers.

Detailing on the issue, Ibomcha clarified that JAC never asked for SPO but arms for self defence in their memorandum.

When recruitment of SPO was initiated by the Government, JAC placed five points to be discussed.

The proposals included relaxation in height and age, minimum educational qualification be class VIII, non deployment of SPOs outside Heirok and not using of SPOs in CI operations.

However, he added, the cabinet approved the first three points but not the later two points.

Ibomcha further reiterated their stand that they would not accept SPO if all the five points are not honoured by the State Government.

they, nevertheless would accept a State Police Force for self defence, he added.

Making clarification regarding today's incident, JAC general secretary Laishram Mandir said that he was informed yesterday by Assam Rifles over phone that they want to extend some help to the family of the victims at around 1 pm today.

he added, they did not mention regarding the interview.

Mandir further said that JAC members had been to Imphal in the morning as the programme was scheduled for afternoon.

He urged the security forces to initiate any step by studying the sentiment and aspiration of the locals to avoid any possible confusion.