Imphal, June 26 2009: The proscribed PREPAK has offered its "revolutionary salute" to two of its slain cadres.

Aheiba Angom, Department of Publicity and Propaganda, PREPAK stated in a press release that Lance Cpl Moirangthem Rakesh @ Raju Laifaba (27), Army No.280506, of Kakching Chumnang Leikai and Pte Ningthoujam Sanjoibi @ Apabi (32), Army No.270116 of Laphupat Tera Mayai Leikai were arrested by a team of Thoubal district police commando from Sarik Konjin and were tortured and shot dead at Mondum Cheeng.

Aheiba Angom further stated that the party shares the sorrow of the aggrieved families of the slain Laifaba and Apabi.

He stated that the L/Cpl Laifaba and Pte Apabi had received military training in the 28th and 27th batches of the party respectively.

Both had taken active part in various activities of the party and were dutiful Red Army.

The statement issued by Thoubal SP Clay Khongsai that said that Laifaba and Apabi were killed in an encounter and that one M-70 grenade launcher, two 40mm bombs, one 9mm pistol and one magazine having two live rounds, one 36 HE grenade, some empty cases of AK and 7.62 were recovered is completely fabricated, Aheiba stated.

Both of them had no weapon whatsoever in their possession that night, he stated adding that if they had weapons like that, it would not have been possible at all to arrest them easily.

He alleged that certain elements who are greedy of a little money had disclosed the whereabouts of the two comrades to the police commandos and IOF.

Thus Laifaba was arrested around 3.42 am by the commandos from the house of one Ningthoujam Sanayaima (55) at Sarik Konjin then Pte Apabi was arrested from the house of Salam Kaba in the same locality.

After arresting them from there, they were taken to Mondum Cheeng and subjected to severe torture and shot dead later, Aheiba Angom stated.

Thus one's son, one's brothers and one's husband would get killed in such fake encounters, but this will never be able to suppress the revolutionary movement, rather it will strengthen the movement, Aheiba Angom stated.