Imphal, August 21: Personnel of the 14 Assam Rifles located at Motbung allegedly forced villagers as well as school children to stage rallies at Keithelmanbi and Kangpokpi areas today demanding continuation of AFSPA in the State, said sources.

Sources further said that rallies were carried out after the AR personnel intimidated the villagers with dire consequences if they fail to comply to their diktats.

AR personnel also forced the village authority and village chiefs of Motbung area to submit application to the post commander of 14 Assam Rifles asking permission for staging the peace rally in the area.

Talking to mediapersons today, Kolpechang Village chief Dousei Haokip informed that 14 AR personnel had come to the village and asked him to instruct the villagers to carry out dharnas and agitation in the area supporting continuation of AFSPA in the State.

At Keithelmanbi, AR personnel took photographs of about 20 school going children after forcing them to stand in a group holding banners reading "Faith can move mountains", "Some still a dynamite", "Stop polarisation of Manipur", "Let AFSPA remain".

The banners were given by the AR personnel.

Again at Kangpokpi, AR personnel after intimidating the students of the area forced about 200/300 Students to carry out a rally from Thomas Ground Kangpokpi to Inspection Bureau located near the 14 JAR post this afternoon at around 2.30.The rallyist were also photographed by persons suspected to be AR personnel who came in a Tata Sumo (MN06/L-1782) with the word press pasted on the vehicle.

Meanwhile 14 Assam Rifles post CO Gurvinder Singh who interacted with mediapersons today termed the charges labelled against the 14 AR personnel as baseless and irrational.

Clarifying that no peace rally had been organized by AR today, he however added that rallies were carried out today at Keithelmanbi and Kangpokpi by the villagers.

He also informed that ten village Chief had earlier submitted application to him asking for permission to carry out peace rallies in their respective area.

On being questioned why the AR personnel were using a Tata Sumo and disguising themselves as mediapersons, Commanding Officer Gurvinder replied that the vehicle belonged to the rallyist and AR personnel were not in any way connected with the vehicle.

It may be noted here that the white Tata Sumo used during the rally by suspected Assam Rifles personnel was found parked near the 14 Assam Rifles post when the mediaperson went to meet 14 AR CO.

Meanwhile, Kangpokpi Police Station OC Th Nabakumar has informed that no rallies were taken out at Keithelmanbi or Kangpokpi area today and further added that no complaints have been made by the public against any AR personnel.

Motbung Village Authority Chairman SL Lamthang who also interacted with the mediapersons said that Assam Rifles personnel had been pressing the villagers to conduct rallies demanding for continuation of AFSPA in the State since August 13.

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