Vaiphei students refute police claim
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, October 09 2012:
While strongly condemning the "wrongful detention" and arrest of Paolianmawi Vaiphei and Thanglianlal Vaiphei by 15 Assam Rifles and Thoubal district commandos, the Zillai Eastern Block (Vaiphei Students' Association) has refuted the claim made by the police that the duo were members of RPF/PLA.
The combined forces had arrested Paolianmawi Vaiphei s/o Kailun of Kananphai Village, Sadar Hills and Thanglianlal Vaiphei s/o Soiginthang of Molkonbung Village, Sadar Hills from their homes on October 6 .
Addressing media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, Gou Vaiphei, President of Zillai Eastern Block (Vaiphei Students' Association) stated that Paolianmawi Vaiphei is an unemployed daily wage earner living with his old mother while Manglianlal Vaiphei is a Class IX student studying at Bethel English High School, Salam Village near Moirang Purel, Sadar Hills.
Gou said that no arrest memo was given thereafter.
The claim that they were arrested with arms and ammunitions is totally false, Gou Vaiphei dismissed.
Stating that the duo were forcibly given arms and intimidated to admit that they are PLA cadres involved in planting IED explosives targeting security personnel, Gou Vaiphei said, " Arresting innocent persons and branding them as underground cadres, killing innoceent persons in their so called 'encounter' is the modus operandi of the security forces which is uncivilized and highly condemnable by all " .
Henboi Vaiphei, uncle of Manglianlal Vaiphei said a written information from the Bethel English School's authority notifying that Manglianlal is a student of the school had been handed over to the Investigating Officer of Yairipok Police Station.
Taking serious note on the incident, the association has threatened to launch agitations if the authority does not expedite the prosecution against the duo in a just and fair manner and appealed to the concerned to deliver justice immediately.
On the other hand, five out of six militant suspects arrested by troops of 9 Assam Rifles of 26 Sector stationed at Khudengthabi Post in Chandel district yesterday has turned out to be innocent persons as their families have claimed all five of them to be bread earners.
They were all being engaged in the construction of Moreh Forest Department's Range Officer quarter, their families said.
Decrying the act of the 9 Assam Rifles, local residents of Nambol Leimapokpam Mayai Leikai and Nambol Kha-thong sat sit-in protests at their respective community halls participated by mostly womenfolk claiming they are all above suspicion.
They said Oinam Inaocha, 44, is a mason while Leimapokpam Sobha, 35, Yumnam Bungobi, 27, Yumnam Hemanta, all hailing from Nambol Leimapokpam Mayai Leikai and Wahengbam Sunil, 30, a resident of Nambol Kha-thong are all labourers.
The 9 Assam Rifles had claimed that the five were cadres of the banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF).
Three pistols with live rounds, two radio control IEDs, one radio set and other war like stores were seized from them, they had claimed.
The Assam Rifles troops later handed them over to Lamphel Police Station.