Imphal, November 01 2009: The proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has asserted that the killing of seven 'innocents' by personnel of 28 AR on the night of October 31 in a staged-encounter at Yairipok Sanapat was a revenge on the casualty the AR suffered at the hands of the MPA at Aibol village in Chandel district recently.

Stating that the killing of the 'civilians' was an act of high savagery, a statement issued by the senior publicity officer of the UNLF, Ksh Yoiheiba pointed out that two of the slain men were Oinam Anand alias Girani, son of O Yaima and Oinam Maipaksana alias Pakpa, son of O Bhimo both from Ishikha Mayai Leikai who were arrested from their homes on October 22 by security forces in civil dress.

It expressed apprehension that the other unidentified bodies may also be civilians.

It added that the fact that they were killed in a fake encounter after arresting them from different places was clearly testified by the combat dresses the slain men wear in order to look like the real encounter.

Dismissing the statement of the PRO of the AR that the slain men were suspected to be cadres of the UNLF and KYKL combined, the UNLF statement contended it was an attempt to shield the atrocious offence of the AR.

Stating that this is not the first time the AR played such tactic, it added that the AR has the wont to turn their wrath against the civilians when they suffered a blow from the militants.

It stated that the act of the AR was a reprisal on civilians after suffering a blow at the hands of the MPA recently at Aibol village in Chandel district.