UNLF pooh-poohs 'shoot-out' claim
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 22 2013:
Reacting against the report of encounter at the border area of Manipur and Myanmar in Churachandpur district yesterday in which four suspected UNLF cadres were killed, the proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has clarified that no such incident ever took place between UNLF cadres and the Assam Rifles.
In a statement, Senior Publicity Officer of outfit Ksh Yoiheiba said that there was encounter with anyone in any part of the district on January 21 .
The four slain victims may be some deserters or some surrendered persons who were of no use to the Assam Rifles any more, Yoiheiba asserted, adding that such false claim is nothing but a face-saving measure after the failure of Indian Army to organise a 'surrender drama' by luring some youths from Heirok with promise of recruiting them in Assam Rifles.
The statement maintained that the four slain victims might be the deserters of UNLF's armed wing MPA, who fled from 292 Bn of MPA on January 14.The four deserters are Lance Corporal Pukhrambam Wangooba alias Kanta s/o P Ningthemchandra of Wangoo Sabal Mamang Leikai, Kumabam Sindamba alias Das s/o K Babu of Moirang Kumam Leikai, Mutum Ihultamba alias Iboton s/o M Ibocha of Waithou Sangomsang Leikai and Irom Chingahal alias Open s/o I Babumacha of Langthabal Mantrikhong Makha Leikai.The family members may check the bodies of the victims to find out if they were the four deserters.
If the slain victims turned out to be indeed the four missing deserters, then everyone can rest assure that they have been killed by the Assam Rifles for some awards after arresting them since none of the four deserters have taken any arms when they left their battalion, Yoiheiba said.
He also cautioned all the deserters and other individuals who have taken part in the surrender dramas saying that Indian Security Forces would consider their precious lives as valuable and that they are just pawns in the hands of the security forces.