Imphal, June 28 2009: The person said to have been arrested by police who claimed that he was involved in the incidents of killing migrant workers and carries Rs 1 lakh reward on his head, is an innocent civilian, the proscribed UNLF claimed today.

Ksh Yoiheiba, Senior Publicity Officer of Depatment of Publicity, UNLF in a press release stated that according to a news report published in the Imphal-based newspapers, one UNLF cadre identified as Sagolsem Athouba @ Yuremba, son of S Budhi of Wapokpi Chingol Leikai, MPA No.1951, who police claimed was involved in the serial killing of migrant workers and carries a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, has been arrested.

In fact, he had come to the valley for treatment of his illness about six/seven months back and without permission of the party he had stayed back at his home.

In another word he has become a civilian, Yoiheiba reasoned.

He further stated that the puppet state government had blamed the UNLF/MPA for the series of killings of some migrant workers by unknown armed persons that started in the month of June.

The government had announced on June 7 last that Rs 1 lakh will be given to anyone who can provide information on the whereabouts of some persons said to be involved in the killings.

Athouba @ Yuremba is also one of those persons declared wanted by the government.

But as he had stayed back at his home without permission of the party, the UNLF/MPA had not bothered about the DGP's tricky propaganda and did not make any clarification, Yoiheiba stated.

However, on publication of the news which said that one UNLF cadre whohad been declared wanted reward of Rs 1 lakh has been arrested, the party felt it necessary to inform the public who this man is.

The press release further stated that regarding the charge that he was involved in the killing of the migrant workers, let the media persons also take statement from himself whether he was involved in the series of killings or he was still working as a cadre of UNLF/MPA.

Only then people will come to know the truth of the trick being played by DGP Manipur, Yoiheiba added.

Ridiculing the act of Manipur police in declaring civilians and those who have become civilians as wanted persons, Yoiheiba described the act as a trick played by the DGP.

Such tricks will be further played by the puppet government, he stated.

The UNLF does not care two hoots at the tricks of arresting civilians and accusing them as killers of Mayang.

If Manipur DGP also falls in the hands of the UNLF/MPA, it will not be difficult to extract his statement that he killed the Mayangs.

Killing a number of people after arrest and accusing them and also killing innocent persons in fake encounters is the daily routine of police commandos.

Such acts will never be able to suppress the people's struggle for liberation, Yoiheiba concluded.