Imphal, October 22 2008: Claiming responsibility for the bomb attack near the gate of Ragailong yesterday evening in which 16 people were killed, the KCP (MC) in a statement today said that the attack was carried out to discourage the ills associated with the festival of Diwali-gambling.

In a statement, secretary military affairs of the outfit Lanheiba Meitei said that the attack was carried out by the Special Demo Team and added that the go ahead signal was given by the central security council after observing the gambling associated with Diwali and the vices that were happening at the place for three days.

Explaining its stand, the outfit said that Diwali festival is against the ethos of Kangleipak and added that it gives the opportunity to the security forces to rob the public.

On the one hand, the security forces extort money and arrest anyone gambling publicly in connection with Diwali but on the other hand they encourage the same vice near them, it charged.

Accusing the security forces of cooking up stories to earn more money and to shoot and kill as they please, the outfit said that on October 18, Bishnupur police commandos confiscated three pistols including one 9 mm Mauser with 16 live rounds and one magazine, two 9 mm Browning pistol with 13 rounds and one magazine and one Norinco with 8 live rounds, and 30 extra live rounds.

However the next day, the police through the newspapers claimed that only one pistol was recovered from a bus coming from Churachandpur and heading towards Imphal.

The outfit also asked the surrenderees to stop acting at the behest of the security forces opposing the armed movement.

Urging the people to stay away from the security forces, the outfit said that the bomb blast was the first and last warning against festivals like Diwali.

It also warned the public not to stage dharnas or sit--in-protest or else they would be constrained to explode more bombs in the future.

The outfit also shares the grief and pain of the bereaved family members, it added.