Imphal, December 18: Referring to the news articles allegedly published at the behest of UG groups like the UNLF and the PLA, the Assam Rifles clarified that the reported killings of security personnel are totally baseless.

A statement issued by the PRO of Hqs IG AR (S) remarked that the fabricated statements of the UG groups were aimed at lifting sagging morale of their cadres who are allegedly deserting and running away from these groups in the wake of Operation Samtal II.

Stating that the actual facts on ground were published by the media team who visited the area earlier this month, the PRO asserted that the local people of Somtal area can now freely to their fields without fear of IEDs and most importantly they have not fled their homes and would be able to celebrate Christmas and New Year without any fear.

The AR has so far removed 156 IEDs in the process of which nine soldiers suffered injuries.

Questioning whether these UG groups planting IEDs indiscriminately are not playing with the lives of innocent civilians as against all human right conventions, the AR flayed the conspicuous silence of some civil organisations even as more than 30 local civilians have been killed or maimed by IEDs planted by UG groups.

These organisations are either ill informed or clearly under the pressure of UG groups, the PRO alleged.

The UG groups have been forcing the villagers to move to New Somtal area and using them as human shields and exploiting the situation just to claim civilian casualties during Operation Samtal II, it informed.

On the other hand, giving an update of the ongoing Operation Samtal II, the AR PRO informed that the troops are progressing aggressively towards New Samtal area and have reached within striking distance.

Troops have already reached and secured areas up to S Bongjoi, Phaisangjang and Khumkot.

Large scale rearward movement of UG cadres has been reported.

Wireless message intercepted by the troops revealed that the UGs are planning to vacate the areas presently occupied by them because of the advancing troops, claimed the PRO.

It further decried that recently a large number of alleged front organisations and mouth piece of UG outfits have been calling to halt the ongoing counter insurgency operation to bail out the trapped and demoralised cadres but no organisation is speaking on behalf of the villagers of Somtal area who have been allegedly kept hostage by the UG groups.