Arrest violation of ground rules: Pambei-led UNLF
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 17 2024:
Taking arrest of three key functionaries of the outfit by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) very seriously, the Pambei-led United National Liberation Front (UNLF) said that the arrest with a secret plan violates ground rules of the Peace Agreement signed between the Front and the Government of India on November 29, 2023.Notably, on March the NIA arrested three key functionaries of the Front namely MPA (armed wing of UNLF) self-styled chief of army staff in-charge Thokchom Sidabamapu, self-styled intelligence chief Laimayum Ingba and self-styled sergeant Thounaojam Laandaba.
According to a statement of the Pambei-led UNLF, its authority met chief minister N Biren Singh regarding the arrest during which the latter made it clear that no prior information was given or shared to the state for the arrest but the home department had been apprised about the trust deficit the incident had caused.
The chief minister also told the authority during the meeting that he could do nothing as the case is an inter-state matter and being handled by the NIA.
Nevertheless, the chief minister assured to mount pressure at the best level of the state to the Centre for getting bails of the arrested trio, the statement said.
When communicated with NIA higher authority and important leaders of the government of India (GOI), the NIA confirmed taking custody of the trio but declined to hold talk on the matter till completion of investigation.
Front's authority also communicated with representative of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and exerted intense pressure to release the arrested three, including cautioning the IB representative that peace process may face deadlock if the arrested functionaries were not released.
In response, the IB representative assured to work at their best level to release the functionaries, the statement issued by media coordinator Charairongba Thokchom maintained.
While stating that NIA's act seems to derail the peace process as it was made in a motivated manner, the Pambei-led UNLF suggested that the government of India drop all the charges levelled against the trio and release them immediately.