Imphal, February 08 2010: The proscribed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) has strongly denied involvement of insurgent groups in smuggling of narcotic substances such as heroin as alleged by the Chief minister O Ibobi Singh during his speech at the Chief Ministers' conference in New Delhi yesterday.

Reacting to the CM's charges, RPF's Department of Publicity chief GM Changjou said Chief Minister O Ibobi's comment is an attempt to not only undermine the ongoing revolutionary movement but tarnish image of insurgent groups before the global fraternity.

O Ibobi is said to have remarked at the conference held at Vigyan Bhavan that UG groups operating in Manipur indulge in smuggling heroin to procure sophisticated weapons for waging war against the Government, to bear expenditures of top leaders staying abroad and fund activities of combatants inside the country.

opining that the CM's assertion is akin to betraying people of manipur, a statement issued by Changjou said past records about arrest of uniform personnel and politicians is a grim reminder that smuggling of narcotics are actually carried out by Government representatives.

Rather than misleading the gathering the Chief Minister would have been appreciated in case truth about involvement of uniform personnel and politicians in the drug trade been highlighted at the conference, the statement maintained.

Reminding that UGs and women vigilant groups had been at the forefront of combating menace of drug abuse and alarming scale of use of intoxicants, Changjou further stated in 1991 RPF proclaimed ban on sale of Indian Made Foreign Liquor in Manipur to save the citizens from drowning in alcohol which was followed by the then State Government declaring Manipur as a Dry state as a face saving measure.

Pointing that drive against use of intoxicants had been gaining momentum, he also cautioned that RPF is committed to enforce its policy of initiating the most stringent action against anybody found possessing 50 grams of heroin powder as the amount is more than enough to spell doom for an individual and his entire family.

Directing further tirade against the Chief Minister, the RPF statement conceded that in a revolutionary movement nothing is constant as history has proved that no time limit could be fixed for success of a movement.

Rather the movement needs to be sustained till the political contradictions between the battling groups take a decisive turn during which Government forces may resort to utilising all its might including indulgence in extra-judicial killings as had been evident at the present juncture under the rule of the O Ibobi Singh Government, the RPF chief charged with reference to instances of staged encounters.

On the Chief Minister's assertion that there is urgent necessity for fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border, the RPF suggested that artificial barricades cannot subdue the people's movement as the powerful US Government had learnt when its domination of Vietnam ultimately ended in humiliation.

He also described the present Government as the most repressive regime and darkest chapter in the history of manipur for even before the Khwairamband firing incident could be solved, a mother and her young daughter were raped and murder in addition to a young girl from Khurai mercilessly bludgeoned to death.

along with these recent brutalities, the Chief Minister should take moral responsibility for extra-judicial killings being carried out by security forces under his patronage, Changjou claimed.

Insisting that Manipur under the Chief Ministership of O Ibobi Singh has witnessed the highest number of extra-judicial killings, the RPF described the CM as a brilliant actor whose performance is the main factor for leaders in New Delhi willing to extend unconditional support.

Meanwhile, the RPF clarified that the two persons slain by Thoubal district police commandos at Langmeithet area were not its members.

Claim of the Thoubal SP Clay Khongsai of the two being PLA cadres is fictitious and imaginary.

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