Imphal, April 18 2009: While corroborating reports that the Loktak Lake encounter between security forces and underground elements is still on, the proscribed People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) has accused indian Army troops of violating international norms through use of heavy artillery and helicopter gunships.

In a statement issued today, PREPAK's secretary in-charge of Department of Publicity and Propaganda Aheiba Angom also claimed of its Red Army cadres eliminating five and wounding three security personnel while loss suffered by the PREPAK has been put at seven.

Detailing on the gun-fight which is yet to cease, Aheiba said on April 11 night Army troops moved towards the PREPAK transit camps established on the floating biomass in the Loktak Lake.

Already aware of the army movement, Red Army units fanned out to lay multiple ambush later in the night and sighted an unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV) which was flighted with the obvious intention of sketching out the transit camps, the PREPAK functionary narrated and claimed of Red Army cadres gunning down five of the Army personnel on the intervening night of April 11 and 12 (at around 12.30 am) while they (Army) were descending from a gun-ship on ropes.

In the course of attempts to claim weapons from the deceased securitymen shots were fired from the gun-ship in addition to rocket-bombs (mortars) directed to the Red Army positions consequently compelling retreat and leading to demise of three Red Army cadres, Aheiba maintained.

Highlighting that use of heavy artillery in a non-conventional conflict such as the Loktak lake fire-fight is against decree of the United nations, the secretary in-charge further contended that the Army covered up violation of UN norms through decoy UAV and ordinary chopper flights during daytime while after dusk gun-ships sustained the offensive.

The fact that media-persons were denied entry and residents herded out of villages situated in the vicinity of the Army exercise code-named Operation Summer Storm, testify that no efforts were spared in the attempt to keep the operation out of public scrutiny, the PREPAK statement pointed out.

moreover, fishermen settling in the periphery of the loktak lake were engaged to paddle security personnel to the intended location thereby hampering counter-offensive by the Red Army cadres as retaliation is certain to claim civilian casualties, the PREPAK statement conveyed.

Regarding firing of mortars which were also flighted from the direction of Nongmaikhong and Khordak, he insisted that the shells were above 80 mm calibre and created huge waves in the Loktak Lake waters.

PREPAK labelled the Army offensive as the Second kargil War as the weapons and ammunition used in the attacks allegedly comprised of heavy artillery and helicopter gun-ship.

Three more Red Army cadres including a sergeant, who were part of a 14-cadre team , lost their lives to incessant firing from the Army personnel on April 13 when the female companion of the sergeant along with her infant child were being escorted out of the firing zone, Aheiba informed charging security personnel of scant regard on safety of the woman and infant.

Expressing that many security personnel could have been slain had the mother and child not been in the line of fire, Aheiba also ridiculed contention by the Army of the mother-child duo being rescued whereas statement issued by the Defence Wing said they were apprehended.

Such contradictory stance is a testimony that indian security forces are hiding the truth, he said and suggested that the fact could be known from the police station concerned where the woman and her child have been handed over.

The PREPAK lost one more Red Army cadre on April 14 in an attempt to breach the security dragnet, he added while asserting that as the PREPAK is committed to achieving the target to regaining lost sovereignty the red Army cadres have every right to set up camps anywhere in manipur.

Condoling demise of the Red Army cadres, Aheiba Angom confirmed identities of the slain as Sgt Yumnam Bocha alias Kora alias Suraj (27) s/o Dhanabir of Sagolband Bijoy Govinda; L/Cpl Haorungbam Surchandra alias Tatonbi alias Kanglaton (24) s/o Mangi of Lousangkhong Mayai Leikai; Pvt Kakchingtabam Bidyananda alias Santosh alias Maniton (21) s/o Gopeshore of Singjamei Waikhom Leikai; Pvt Meisnam Arun alias Ngamba (19) s/o Kumar of Chairen Mangjin; Pvt Naorem Boicha alias Bobin (18) s/o Achou of Sekmaijin Khoidum Pat; Sapam Dineshchandra alias Ibomcha (21) s/o Brojen of Wabagai Maning Leikai; and Naorem Ronald (31) s/o Nimai of Phoubakchao Ithai.

Informing that S Dineshchandra and N Ronald were yet to undertake basic combat training rigours, the PREPAK statement insisted they would be considered as civilians.