PREPAK, UNLF debunk surrender story
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 10 2011:
The proscribed PREPAK and UNLF have trashed the claims made by the State Government and the Assam Rifles over the surrender of 16 militants at the IGAR Headquarters at Mantripu-khri yesterday.
In a statement issued to the press today, UNLF admitted that three cadres of the outfit were among those who surrendered at
Mantri-pukhri yesterday.
The three are Ning-thoujam Sangakpa alias Joychandra son of N Haibungo of Pangaltabi, Yengkhom Lamthaba alias Sanatomba son of Y Biren of Waiton Mayai Leikai and Hemam Lambicha alias Johnson son of (L) H Bimol of Moirang Khunou Makha Leikai.
Giving their version of the story, UNLF said that Hemam Lambicha was arrested while he was on his way home after being discharged following the death of his father.
Lambicha was allowed to leave on humanitarian ground so that he could look after his young sister and brother, said UNLF and added that N Sangakpa went home for medical treatment while Y Lamthaba is a deserter having fled from the 293 unit of the outfit.
Debunking the story that Sangakpa and Lamthaba surrendered along with one US made Carbine and one M-16 rifle, UNLF said that this is nothing but another false propaganda.
Claiming that this is not the first time that such unfounded stories have been floated, UNLF said that there have been instances when arrested cadres were forced to stage surrender drama and recalled the report by Tehelka which said that arms taken from the Kuki groups under SoO with the Govt were used during a surrender drama.
Moreover the security forces have been instrumental in setting up gangs to discredit the genuine liberation movement.
The proscribed PRE-PAK has also categorically stated that S/S Sgt Tong-bram Ibomcha alias Sam- chand alias Rajesh (28) of Lamphel and Pvt Md Abdul Khan were in no way related to the outfit.
The security forces had dubbed them as PREPAK cadres during the surrender ceremony yesterday.
In a statement PREPAK said that the M 16 rifle along with one magazine and 12 bullets as well as the M 20 pistol with six bullets did not belong to them.
The story that they belonged to the outfit is but another instance of the tactics adopted by the security forces, it asserted.
The very fact that certain information such as their exact place of origin as well as the names of their fathers is ample proof that the surrender story was scrip-ted by the security forces.