Imphal, August 10: While the Heirok JAC has refuted the charges levelled by KYKL and UNLF, a joint meeting of Senior Citizen Forum, Heirok and Nupi Khunai Apunba, Heirok held today has resolved to stay away from the issue for sometime.

In a statement, L Mandir Singh, secretary of JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Th Promila Devi, L Nirmala Devi and Th Romesh Singh and Seriously Injured of W Rebika Devi, expressed regret and surprise over the charges levelled against the JAC.

Stating that the charges may have been levelled without proper investigation, Mandir dared to accept any punishment given by the two outfits in case any of the JAC members are invovled in the construction of SPO as alleged.

Mandir said it would have been more appreciable if the two outfits had identified the alleged members involved in the work.

Making the stand of the JAC clear on the issue, Mandir said that the JAC has not budged from its May 7, 2008 resolution of not accepting the offer of SPOs from the Govt nor made any more demand from the Govt besides the 12-point raised in the second reminder submitted to the Chief Minister on August 24, 2008 .

The glaring testimony of this fact is the non-involvement of the JAC in the acquisition of land for construction of the proposed barrack, Mandir said, adding that those involved in the matter can be known from the landowners.

In view of the difficulties being faced by the poor daily wage earners and students of Heirok, the JAC also appealed to the two outfits to lift the restrictions permanently.

Meanwhile, a joint meeting of the Senior Citizen Forum, Heirok and Nupi Khunai Apunba, Heirok held today at the Heirok Part-II Mayai Leikai residence of Khundongbam Raghumani Singh resolved that the two organisations would stay away from the issue of Heirok for sometime.

Coming out strongly against the alleged insincerity of the Government towards resolving the issue of armed conflict in the State, the meeting contended that the proposal of setting up SPOs is just an extension of the divide and rule policy of the Government to encourage more bloodshed among the innocent people.

On the restrictions imposed on Heirok, the meeting felt that an entire village should not be victimized for the 'wrong' done by some people.