No state police involved in Meghen's arrest: DGP
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 01 2010: Manipur DGP Y Joykumar today clarified that no state police personnel were involved in the "arrest" of UNLF chairman RK Meghen in Motihari of Bihar's East Champaran district yesterday.

The police chief said state police was not involved in the arrest of Meghen.

They came to know of the arrest only when the authority of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), New Delhi intimated.

The information about the arrest was intimated today by the NIA SP Soyam Prakash Pani.

They also urged the state police to pass the information of his arrest to his family.

However, he said that state police is ready to extend corporation to the NIA if asked for in the investigation into the case against the UNLF chairman.

He has no knowledge of Meghen being brought to Imphal.

Sources also said that there was no plan was for bringing Meghen to Imphal.

The three day transit remand obtained from the court was not for transporting him to Imphal.

It might be for taking him to New Delhi.

Womenfolk waiting to welcome United National Liberation Front (UNLF) Chairman, RK Meghen at Imphal airport road on Wednesday

In the meantime, a large number of people, most of them members of civil organisations thronged Imphal airport as speculations spread this morning that RK Meghen alias Sanayaima was to be brought to the state today.

They started thronging tthe airport from around 8 am waiting for his arrival.

They stayed there till late afternoon today.

Newmai News Network adds, three influential women's organizations, Universal Mothers' Organization, Nupi Samaj and All Manipur Tammi Chingmi Lup, thronged the airport in a massive force in anticipation of the arrival of the rebel leader.

Universal Mothers' Organization president, Momon warned that, "Should the Government of India fail to own up its responsibility in the arrest of Meghen, a volatile social unrest is imminent in Manipur," and accused the Government of India of violating human rights despite the rhetoric of India being the largest democracy.

All Manipur Tammi Chingmi Lup president, Ramani reasoned that "due to the avalanche of protest against the shrouded arrest of Meghen witnessed during the days following his 'arrest', Government of India has owned up on Meghen being in its custody at last.

Had it not for the numerous protest voices, Meghen would have been killed" .

On a profound note, Ramini added a guiding counsel saying, "Meghen should accommodate the sentiment of the people of Manipur in his next move" .

In anticipation of the arrival of Meghen women's bodies flanked both sides of the road in Kwakeithel which is located on the approach road to the airport on Tiddim Road in Imphal, displaying placards emblazoned with messages like, "we want justice", "we want democratic solution", "long live Manipur", "we welcome UNLF chairman Sanayaima", "we honour international law" etc.

Accusing the government of arresting many militants on the sly, like in the case of NSCN-IM's Ningkhan Simray and DHD's Niranjai Hojai, the UNLF said in one of its press releases that "behind the veil of non violence, the nation carries out random acts of terror and the public have been subjugated by the IOF.

Countless civilians have disappeared and died at the hands of the security forces granted immunity under AFSPA" .

UNLF chairman, Sanayaima aka RK Meghen, was reportedly arrested at Lalmatia locality in Bangladesh on September 29, 2010 by a joint team of Bangladeshi and Indian sleuths and reportedly extradited to India surreptitiously.

The arrest was promptly reported by the BBC which was reffered by regional newspapers subsequently thereafter.

With the arrest taking a political turn, Bangladesh Communist Party was approached by its Indian counterpart to confirm the veracity of the news which sometime in November relayed its confirmation of the arrest.

However, with the Government of India remaining in stoic silence over the issue; neither agreeing nor disagreeing the arrest, the people of the State rose up in protest against the government's double standard and began to question its dispensation on the theory and practice of honouring international law.