Imphal, August 03 2010: The claim that Sarangthem Lukhoi alias Prem (34) s/o S Nageswar of Huikap Makha Leikai surrendered to Assam Rifles as UNLF Finance Secretary was a blatant lie.

Lukhoi is an illiterate and was never a cadre of the UNLF, clarified his family.

Speaking to media persons about the surrender claim at Manipur Press Club here today, Lukhoi's wife Sanahanbi said that her husband was a daily wage earner.

Flatly rejecting the claim that Lukhoi is a UNLF cadre, Sanahanbi said that her husband was the sole bread winner of their family comprising their three children and aged parents.

Lukhoi's father Nageswar said that Lukhoi is a carpenter by profession.

Saying that his son is illiterate, Nageswar wondered how could his son assume the post of UNLF's Finance Secretary.

For the last many years, he has been working at home as a carpenter.

The whole family is dependent on Lukhoi, Nageswar said.

Interestingly, the Assam Rifles PRO had claimed that Nageswar surrendered to 29 Assam Rifles of 26 Sector under Hqs IG AR (S) as a UNLF cadre along with a weapon in front of Inspector Tomba of Tengnoupal PS.

This was published in local dailies on August 1.The AR PRO release mentioned that Lukhoi also brought one 9 mm pistol with magazine and seven live rounds of 9 mm ammunition.

Refuting all these claims and allegations as purely fabricated and baseless, Sanahanbi said that Lukhoi left for Moreh to buy wooden window and door frames on July 18 .

He had to stay back at Moreh for some days as construction of door and window frames was not complete.

As Lukhoi left behind his voter identity card at home by mistake, he came back on July 30 without bringing the door and window frames considering the problems he would face on the road in the absence of his identity card.

But on the way back, Lukhoi was arrested by Assam Rifles at Tengnoupal.

The family came to know about the arrest of Lukhoi when they were informed by some people who knew Lukhoi as well as his address.

On learning about the arrest, Nageswar, Sanahanbi and one Ibemcha of the neighbourhood went to Tengnoupal on August 1.They met Nageswar there.

But when Sanahanbi talked with her husband, they were all surrounded by AR personnel who arrested him.

Lukhoi spoke very little words, that too with much fright.

That he was threatened by Assam Rifles could be easily discerned, Sanahanbi said.

Taking part in the press meet, president of the Young Farmers' Club Huikap, L Ingocha said that Lukhoi was an innocent civilian working as a carpenter.

The claim that he was UNLF's Finance Secretary was rather absurd.

He further appealed to Assam Rifles not to repeat such unwarranted harassment of civilians.

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