Imphal, February 13: Spelling out the reasons for the life attempt on the general secretary of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union and Bureau Chief of Poknapham, Ratan Luwangcha on February 9, the proscribed KCP said that the assault was launched for a number of reason and after Ratan did not heed any of the earlier warnings issued to him.

In a statement issued to the press, the information and publicity secretary of the outfit, Pibarel Mangang said that the decision to launch the murderous assault on Ratan was taken by the Central Committee of the outfit.

Detailing, the statement said that since 1997, Ratan Luwangcha along with his brother Iboyai and his sister Bipi master minded a series of extortion along with some gang members and accumulated personal wealth.

During the last many years, Ratan offered shelter and extended help to many who were working against the KCP, charged the outfit and added that he even used his personal vehicle to ferry the gang members.

Pin pointing a particular incident, KCP said that on January 29 this year, Ratan was instrumental in extorting Rs 6 lakhs from a petrol pump.

On top of this he was involved in extorting money in the name of KCP from a number of shop keepers in Imphal.

The proof of all these lies in the assets and vehicles which Ratan has accumulated down the years, which are not proportionate to his known sources of income, charged the statement.

As the outfit started the process of investigating the cases of extortion in the name of the KCP, Ratan made his younger brother Iboyai to surrender to the enemy and started working against the outfit as well as the people, charged the statement.

The statement said that the family members of Ratan are involved in activities which are against the armed movement.

Recalling a press conference convened by the KCP in August 2005, the statement said that the outfit had made it clear that anyone who issued home demand in the name of the KCP would be punished without any prior warning.

Ratan Luwangcha was himself present at the press conference, added the statement.

For all his acts and misdeeds, KCP could no longer view him as a general secretary of AMWJU, explained the outfit and charged that in order to cover up all his misdeeds, he put on the mask of a journalist to fool AMWJU and the people.

The KCP only unmasked the real Ratan before the people, it added.

The KCP however expressed its regret over its failure to inform the AMWJU before it took action against Ratan.

The outfit further said that it was unfortunate that AMWJU could not see through the mask and made Ratan its general secretary.

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