Army sticks to surrender story
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 09 2011:
Describing the UNLF disclaimer, with regard to two of its cadres laying down arms in the surrender ceremony held at the Leimakhong headquarters of 57 Mountain Division, as 'routine refutal of realities' by the UNLF, a PIB (DW) statement presented a detailed account on events leading to the surrender of the two.
Reacting to the news item under the headline "UNLF refutes, clarifies" published in this daily, the PIB (DW) statement said denial by the UNLF that its cadres namely SS 2/Lt Oinam Chairellakpa alias Guneshwar s/o O Samungou of Thanga Chingkha Leikai and Tongbram Mitlang alias Babuthoi, issued by the outfit's senior publicity officer Ksh Yoiheiba "lacks substance and is more of a 'routine refutal of realities, which of late is more and more noticeable in the case of UNLF, in particular'" .
On September 4, a list of 28 cadres who were to surrender to the Army was published in all leading newspapers of Manipur.
Thereafter, the antecedents of the 29th cadre, Tongbram Mitlang of the UNLF was authenticated from various sources including the police, village elders and family members, maintained the PIB (DW) statement adding that he (Mitlang) was clearly identified by SS 2/Lt Oinam Chairellakpa as an active cadre of UNLF.
It is strange that there was no refutal or reaction from the UNLF when names were published in the newspaper.
This also proves the fact that the UNLF, on the actual fructification of the surrender of their two cadres to the Army realised that a refutal must be made as a face saving stance, it observed.
pointing out that the Army adopts a detailed and established procedure prior to acceptance of surrenders, the statement said names of potential surrenderees are verified by the Police as also by the Village Head, neighbours and own existing records.
It is only after completion of these procedures that the cadre is found a fit case for surrender.
Even "volunteer" surrenderees are not accepted at their face value until verification procedures are completed.
clarifying that unlike what has been stated by the UNLF, it is the parents of active cadres who constantly request the Army to accept the surrender of their wards, the PIB (DW) also said 'in no way is the Army involved in pressurising the parents' .
In any case if the parents wielded such influences on their wards, they would not have joined the underground outfit in the first place, it noted and reiterated that the army does not accept surrender of militants until and unless facts, records and other verification procedures are adhered to in the right earnest.
With fast depletion in their rank and file by way of apprehensions and surrenders at the hands of security forces, it may be more prudent for organisations like UNLF to sit up and take notice, rather than refuting ground realities, suggested the statement.
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