Imphal, October 13 2008: Refuting the claim of the police, the proscribed outfit PREPAK has asserted that the claim of killing Sairem Kiran alias Leirenjao alias Mahadev (24) s/o Sairem Thoiba of Taret Khul Awang Leikai during an encounter with a combined force of Imphal East Police Commandos and 39 Assam, Rifles on the night of October 10 was baseless and unfounded.

In a statement, secretary in-charge of department of publicity and propaganda of the outfit Aheibam Angom clarified on that fateful day Kiran had been picked up from near Sawombung gate by 39 Assam Rifles at around 8.50 am and was killed after subjecting him severe torture.

But the police was trying to mislead the people by claiming that he was killed during an encounter with the combined force near Hundred Flowers School at Pangei at around 6.45 pm.

Sairem Kiran alias Leirenjao joined PREPAK on March 9, 2006 and after undergoing military training as one of the 20th batch, he was working for the cause of the outfit with sincerity holding the rank of lance corporal, Aheiba Angom said while conveying that PREPAK and its armed wing Red Army have given the highest revolutionary salute to the departed cadre while sharing in the grief and sorrow of the bereaved family members.