Imphal, February 24, 2010: The proscribed KYKL has claimed responsibility for the gunning down of Thokchom Farishta alias Uttam (25) s/o Th Ingo of Ningthoukhong Ward No 11, at Lamphel area yesterday.

Asserting that Uttam had to be eliminated for his cumulative criminal acts, a release issued by deputy secretary of the KYKL's Publicity and Research Apabi Mangang accused Uttam of orchestrating the brutal murder of nine KYKL cadres at the 1st Bn camp on the internvening night of June 19 and 20 last year.

In the said incident, the battalion's CO Lt Col Nikel and another officer Lt Khamba were among the nine dead after which 7/8 individuals who led the massacre forced 50 other cadres to accompany them, recounted Apabi further adding that more than 80 weapons were also taken away from the camp.

describing the massacre as most inhumane possible only for criminal minded individuals to execute and the incident darkest chapter in the annal of the KYKL organisation, the outfit's deputy secretary maintained that it had become inevitable for the KYKL to relentlessly pursue Uttam and his 7/8 accomplices for ensuring that these criminals do the thrive in the society.

Disclosing that ever since the massacre took place, an intense campaign was launched with active support of close allies, the KYKL statement recounted that elimination of KYKL-MDF leader Capt Rishikanta alias Inaoton of Sawombung at Ukhrul town within 14 days of the battalion massacre underscored the KYKL's determination to weed out the criminal elements.

Rishikanta was not directly involved in the massacre but the proclamation of him being the leader of KYKL-MDF is a testimony of his role in the gruesome killing of nine KYKL cadres, said Apabi who opined that subsequent gunning down of few more of the deserters culminating with the slaying of Uttam yesterday is a big acheivement of the ongoing movement.

With Uttam's elimination, out of the 8/9 criminal minded defectors only one remains to be neutralised for the others have either been slain or condoned after surrendering to the KYKL, the statement informed.

Moreover out of about 50 cadres forced at gun-point to accompany the main defectors, 99 percent have been granted amnesty and living as civilians, Apabi continued while revealing that the lone survivor at present is indulging in making threatening calls to accumulate personal wealth, with the support of some individuals who work on commission/percentage basis.

Warning the accomplices to distance themselves from the remaining defector failing which KYKL would not shudder from gunning them down as well, Apabi affirmed that no matter the amount of time taken in tracking down the lone survivor, KYKL's focus will ever remain on elimination of the individual even in advance stage of life.

Calling upon the people not to cow down to the telephonic threats and intimidating tactics of the remaining individual, Apabi opined that conceded to monetary demands of the criminals would only add to the financial burden being endured by the society.

Accepting that certain incident had slightly diluted KYKL's image as an armed organisation involved in the ongoing movement, the secretary conveyed that every efforts are being made to live upto the expectation of the people.

He also sought active support and cooperation of the general public in the campaign to cleanse the society from criminal elements such as remaining activists of the KYKL-MDF.