Seven misled youths escape from AR camp
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 08 2013: Seven misled youths who were lured with promise of job recruitment escaped from an AR post after realizing that they were being detained to take part in a 'surrender drama'. However, the Assam Rifles authority has refuted the claim of the seven youths.

The seven youths who have escaped from the AR camp are all from Heirok Part II.

They are Elangbam Mohindro (20)s/o E Leirang; Nongthongbam Johny (21)s/o N Kumar; Thokchom Milan (25) s/o Th Rameshwar; Moirangthem Thoiba (21) s/o M Shanta; Ningthoujam Herojit (21)s/o late N Jiten; Moirangthem Oken (30)s/o M Kunjamohon and his younger brother Premkanta.

All of them were alleged lured with promise of being recruited as Riflemen in AR by one Sagolshem Ongbi Purnima (38) w/o S Gambhirsingh of Andro Kharam Dam Mathak.

The seven misled youths recounting their ordeals to mediapersons at Manipur Press Club on Tuesday

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, the seven youths said that S Gambhirsingh is a surrendered cadre of PREPAK presently staying at the head Quarters of 42 AR in Chandel.

They were informed by Purnima that her husband Gambhirsingh is an officer of AR and they were to be recruited as Riflemen of AR under his (Gambhirsingh) quota.

Purnima is a Maibi by profession and is staying at the house of Thokchom Milan as Mother Guru of his wife Naobi.

Her first prey was Th Milan whom she had handed over to her husband (Gambhirsingh) who was staying at the camp of 42 AR at Chandel on December 29 last, the youths said.

Later on January 4, Purnima along with Naobi took the remaining six youths to the AR camp where they were greeted by Gambhirsingh who was found waiting for them at the gate in full AR uniform.

He took them inside the camp and introduced them to some of the AR officers who recorded their details and took photos, they added.

After that they were again taken to another room and further introduced to one person whom Gambirsingh addressed as 'Sir'.

On the way to the room, they also saw around 50 persons in civil dress.

There, the other person whom Gambhirsingh addressed as 'Sir' again recorded their details and asked them to sign on a form where the words 'Military Defense Force' were written.

When enquired for the purpose of signing the said forms, Gambhirsingh said that they would be recruited in the AR as cadres of the UG group and that there is nothing to worry, they further informed.

The youths then called up their families at home and told them the whole scenario to which the family members told them to immediately leave the place.

Not knowing what to do and how to get away from the AR post, they spent the night at the camp.

The next day Premkanta, Oken and Johny left the camp, but the remaining youths were not allowed to leave the camp by the AR authority.

However, after exerting pressure to the authorities, Herojit and Thoiba were also allowed to leave the camp.

After the first five youths came back home, Milan and Mohindro reached home on January 7 .

When the incident was reported to local clubs and Meira Paibis, the enraged locals rounded up Purnima and also tried to destroy the house where she was staying but prevented by the club members.

Later, police personnel arrived at the scene and arrested Purnima and Th Rameshwar who is the owner of the house where Purnima was staying.

Meanwhile, police have claimed that they have arrested Purnima and Th Rameshwar for cheating the youngsters to participate in the Army recruitment Rally at Chandel and handing them over as active members of MTF.

Both of them are said to be active members of MTF.On the other hand, PRO, IGAR (S) in a press statement has asserted that 42 AR authorities did not approach any locals for joining insurgent groups for peace process/surrenders and said that all cadres brought by leaders of KYKL (MDF) for the ongoing peace process are verified at multiple levels.

The youths namely N Herojit (21), Th Milan (25), M Premkanta (21), N Johny, E Muhindro (20), M Thoiba (21) and M Oken (25) approached 42 AR for surrenders.

However, after preliminary investigation at battalion level they were found to be not a part of the group.

Thus, the youths returned.

The PRO further asserted that the report was aimed at defaming the Assam Rifles and interrupting the ongoing peace process between the Government of India and KYKL (MDF) .