No UG cadre held, claims Assam Rifles
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 20 2017:
The Assam Rifles has clarified that the report of apprehension of one Thokchom Ningthemba alias self styled Private Pheiroijamba by 4 AR during an encounter with the UGs is totally false and baseless.
A press release issued by the PRO, IGAR (South) stated that on November 15, at around 5.30 am, a foot column of 4 AR came under indiscriminate firing in Sajik Tampak area.
In the ensuing retaliatory fire, a UG cadre was killed on the spot, while the rest of the UG party fled.
Subsequently, after neutralising the IED with the help of bomb disposal squad on November 16, the dead body of the UG cadre was handed over to Chakpikarong police station.
The dead cadre was later identified as Sergeant Koko of MNPF, who also took part in ambush at Hengshi earlier, on May 22, 2016, which resulted in the death of six SF personnel.
It is reiterated that no apprehension of any individual took place during or after the operation, it claimed.
It explained that police personnel immediately came to the.
spot for necessary investigation and routine formalities and further claimed that the accusation by the aggrieved parties is false and seems to be fabricated at the behest of UG groups namely, PL A and MNPF.
It explained that the Kuki dominated belt is already upset with UG's constant peace disruptive transgressions.
In the aftermath of the incident, a large number ' of locals reported about presence of some injured UGs in the Sajik Tampak valley area and consequently, search operations ' are still under progress, it added.
The alleged apprehension is aimed at maligning the image-of Assam Rifles, it claimed.