Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 27 2010:
The proscribed PREPAK has contradicted the claim of the PRO of Hqs IG AR (S) that its cadre Sandhiam Rame (28) s/o Achou of Sekmaijing Thongam was apprehended by a combined team of 12 Maratha Light Infantry and 28 Assam Rifles during an operation at Wangkhei Ayangpalli at about 11.35 am of August 24 .
A press release issued by the outfit's department of publicity and propaganda secretary in-charge Aheiba Angom contended that Rame was pulled up from Canchipur at about 3 pm of the same day.
Further contradicting the PRO's claim, the outfit maintained that one lethode gun, seven lethode bombs, one AK-56 (folding), three AK 56 butts, 12 AK magazine, 710 AK ammunition, fifteen 9 mm ammunition, five M 20 ammunition, one Uzi submachine gun, three magazines, one point 38 pistol, four live rounds and 50 live rounds of point 45 .
However, the PRO claimed that one US carbine, one magazine, one 9 mm pistol, one AK 47 rifle, three magazines, 165 live rounds, one lethode gun, one point 32 pistol, one magazine and one live round were recovered on the disclosure of Rame from Sekmaijing Thongam.
Alleging that was a great variance between the exact numbers of arms and ammunition seized and what was disclosed by the Assam Rifles PRO, Aheiba Angom questioned the motive for concealing a large number of seized arms and ammunition.
Enquiring whether the Assam Rifles are planning to set up a gang with the weapons or sell them in clandestine manner, the outfit went on to ask if the concealed weapons would be used in fake encounters to kill innocent civilians.
The concealment of so many arms and ammunition by security forces poses serious threat to the public, added the release.