Imphal, October 20 2008: The proscribed PREPAK has refuted the claim of the police that Salam Heramon alias Pibarel (30) of Sekmaijin was killed by a combined force of 32 Assam Rifles and Imphal West police commandos on October 17 in an encounter.

In a statement, secretary in charge of the depart ment of publicity and propaganda, Aheiba Angom said that the claim of the police that a country made carbine along with four bullets is nothing but a lie.

PREPAK does not use country made guns, asserted the statement and added that Pibarel was earlier arrested by the police and had just come out from jail.

He was undergoing treatment and hence the outfit did not assign him any task.

On the other hand he was first picked up and after subjecting him to severe torture was done to death, claimed the statement.

Pibarel was a member of the 8th batch and underwent military training, it said and added that he held the post of Sergeant.