Imphal, April 01 2009: On the eve of the 17th foundation day of People's United Liberation Front (PULF), the chairman of the armed outfit has conveyed greetings to the people of the State.

Issuing a statement today in connection with the foundation day to be celebrated tomorrow, chair man of PULF Zahangir Khan observed for over 450 years of settlement in the State, Manipuri Muslims have been living in mutual co-existence with both the hill and valley people.

However, after the British occupation and the subsequent annexation by India, the socio-economic condition of the people have been affected so much that the living standard of the people has been at its lowest ebb in comparison with the people in other parts of the world.

Unable to tolerate such repression rule, the people of Manipur started fighting for independence since 1958.Though late, Manipuri Muslim also joined the movement of their own accord along with formation of PULF on April 11, 1992 .

Since its formation with Md Abdul Kalam Azad as its chairman for 16 years, PULF has been contributing its mite to the freedom struggle, Zahangir said.

Though difference of opinions within the outfit have led to some internal crisis, the efforts made by the departed leaders like Bashir Lashkar, Safi, Yakub, Boy, Raj Khan, etc have reconsolidated the position of the outfit, he added.

On the other hand, chief agents of India which are trying to create disunity among people and the three-man committee formed with O Ibobi Singh as the chairman with the main objective of killing people in the valley have brutally murdered chairman of the outfit Azad and three other noted figures after being capture, Zahangir said, describing it as an act of cowardice.

The four PULF leaders have been killed after being invited by a member of the three-man committee in connection with finalising the SoO agreement, he asserted, adding that such killings have confirmed the suspicion that enlighten persons from minority groups have no place in the State.

The chairman also apologised to the people if the outfit had done or spoken anything, even unintentional in the past, that might have hurt the sentiment of the people.

The chairman further announced that PULF would henceforth start paying special attention on development of education along with setting up a special mobile task force under the command of general secretary of the outfit MS Rafi.

The mobile task force would fight against corruption in education but would extend every possible assistance to meritorious students.

Side by side efforts would also be made to fight against drug problems, the chairman informed.

The chairman also assured that PULF would respect the freedom of press/media.

While condoling the death of former chairman Azad Khan, finance secretary Raja Khan, project officer Azad and second lieutenant Md Rafique, the chairman said that PULF accords highest revolutionary salute to the sacrificial spirit of these departed leaders.

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