Imphal, April 18 2009: The proscribed People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), which is currently in the middle of a do or die battle against the large number of combined security forces at Loktak lake, has said that the attack launched against it by the security forces is a "second Kargil war".

The party has also claimed that its ''valiant'' Red Army had killed at least eight personnel of the Army, which it called the Indian Occupation Force (IOF), and injured three.

The party disclosed that seven of its Red Army cadres had laid down their lives in the battle at Loktak and another two civilians were also killed by the Army.

A press release issued today by Secretary In-Charge, Department of Publicity and Propaganda, PREPAK, Aheiba Angom stated that the "IOF" had beseiged the transit camp of the party located at the Loktak lake on the night of April 11.The Red Army had received information that the "IOF" were coming before they reached the shore of the lake.

As a strategy, the Red Army cadres were divided into various teams and were ready to fight the "IOF".

Aheiba Angom further narrated that around 9 pm, an Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV) flew over the area and tried to find out the position of the Red Army cadres.

Around 12.30 midnight, a number of "IOF" got down from a helicopter gunship through ropes to the area where the Red Army cadres were taking position.

Immediately the Red Army cadres attacked the invading security personnel and killed five of them and injured another three.

Then the Red Army cadres went in to snatch the weapons from the "enemies." But in order to save the helpless "IOF", the helicopter gunship started opening rapid fire.

Not only that rockets were also fired at near the position of the Red Army cadres.

Because of that the Red Army cadres could not snatch the weapons from the "enemies".

In the attack of the gunship, three "valiant" Red Army cadres died, Aheiba Angom revealed.

He further charged that the "IOF" defied all international conventions in the battle and used heavy artillery.

They used helicopter without gunship during day time and used helicoper gunship at night time.

In order to cover up this, the IOF drove away the civilians from their villages and prevent media persons from entering the areas.

Sometimes they force the fishermen to row their boats to use them as human shield and come towards the Red Army's position.

This has made the Red Army to restrain.

Moreover, the Red Army cadres have restrained themselves from firing rockets and mortars for fear of causing casualties to the civilians.

Thus they have been compelled to fight in low intensity, the Secretary In-Charge stated.

He further stated that as soon as the "IOF" learnt of the heavy casualties on their side caused by the Red Army, they started firing artillery shells from the villages of Nongmaikhong and Khordak areas.

The artillery shells fired from those areas would be over 80 mm.

When the shells explode, high water waves were created.

Aheiba Angom revealed that the Red Army cadres were divided into sub-units and prepared to lay ambush at more than ten places.

However, violating the international norms of non-conventional war approved by the United Nations, the Indian Army started attacking from different directions using heavy artilleries.

Now also the "IOF" are firing artillery shells continuously at different places of the Loktak lake including the Keibul Lamjao National Park.

There is no difference between the Indian Army's attack and the Kargil war.

Therefore, PREPAK feels that the attack of the "IOF" is the second Kargil war, Aheiba Angom contended.

On April 13, a team of 14 cadres of Red Army led by a Sgt went to see off his wife and child so that they would not become an obstruction in the battle.

The "IOF" who did not care two hoots for women and children attacked the team.

In order to save the woman and the child, the Sgt and two others gave their life.

In that battle also, the Red Army killed three "IOF." If the woman and the child were not present, more "IOF" would have been killed, but owing to restraint on part of the Red Army to save the civilians, they could not fight further.

Thus they retreated from the area, Aheiba Angom narrated.

The police would know how the woman and the child were handed over to them by the "IOF" which would prove that they lie and cheat, Aheiba Angom stated and asked if the two were rescued, why did the PIB (Defence Wing) say in its statement that the two were nabbed.

Thus, on April 14, in an attempt of the Red Army cadres to break the cordon of the security forces, one cadre died.

Even now the battle is going on.

The Red Army will never retreat and have been instructed not to take a step back in fighting the "enemeis," Aheiba Angom informed.

He further said that Sgt Yumnam Bocha @ Kora @ Suraj (27), son of Dhanabir of Sagolband Bijoy Govida, Lance Corporal Haorongbam Surchandra @ Tatonbi @ Kanglaton (24), son of Mangi of Loushakhong Mayai Leikai, Pte Kakchingtabam Bidyananda @ Santosh @ Maniton (21), son of Gopeshore of Singjamei Waikhom Leikai, Pte Meisnam Arun @ Ngamba (19), son of Kumar of Chairen Mangjing, Pte Naorem Boicha @ Bobin (18), son of Achou, Sekmaijin Khoidum Pat and untrained Sapam Dineshchandra @ Ibomcha (21), son of Brojen of Wabagai Maning Leikai, Naorem Ronald (31), son of Nimai of Phoubakchao Ithai had laid down their lives in the battle against the "enemies".

Sapam Dineshchandra @ Ibomcha and Naorem Ronald were not yet soldiers of the party, therefore the party considers them as civilians, Aheiba Angom stated.

According the press release, the PREPAK and Red Army offered revolutionary salute to the "brave" soldiers and conveyed deep sorrow over their untimely dead to the aggrieved families.