Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 27:
Reacting to news report of Assam Rifles personnel posted at Sagolmang Post forcing villagers to display telephone number of the AR post on their houses and hoardings, Assam Rifles has stated that whereas the news about the display of telephone number is correct, the intention behind such display as made out in the news report is misleading.
In a press rebuttal, the AR press spokesman pointed out that the hoardings at various places read �For help contact 4 AR Sagolmang Post, Telephone-2572204�.But the three words �For help contact� which actually explain the intention intrinsic in such a banner have been dropped out from the news report, the spokesman said.
Informing that the whole exercise was done in the month of June/July 2004, the AR press spokesman said that if the assumption that the villagers were coerced by Assam Rifles by beating or thrashing them to display such banners/hoardings, is believed, then the news items should have logically appeared during the same time.
The fact that the news item appeared in the month of September shows that the assumption is baseless and devoid of truth, the spokesman said, reiterating the putting up of hoardings was a volunteer work by the villagers who realized that it was in their own interest to keep insurgents at bay.
Further it is to be understood that the Assam Rifles by asking villagers to report about UG activities in their villagers have in fact made itself even more committed to their help during such hours of need, the AR press spokesman said.