Imphal, March 24: United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has come out strongly against what it terms as 'series of false propaganda by a morally sagging troops after repeated drubbing in the hands of UNLF to demean the outfit'.

In a statement, senior publicity officer of the outfit Ksh Yoiheiba outrightly rejected the claim of the PIB defence wing on March 22 that a corporal of the outfit identified as Kuber was shot dead during encounter and one 9 mm pistol recovered from his possession.

Such false claim is nothing but yet another act of cowardice of the Indian security forces who live under the impression that they have been given the license to kill any person under AFSPA, Yoiheiba said.

The truth was that slain Salam Devan alias Kuber s/o S Mani of Keibul Mayai Leikai was picked up by personnel of 15 JKLI posted at Ningthoukhong from a house in Thinungei Mayai Leikai and was later eliminated in cold blood after subjecting him to brutal tortures near the gate of the house, Yoiheiba said.

Yoiheiba further clarified that at the time of his arrest, Kuber did not have any weapon.

He was just a local member of UNLF.

Moreover, he had not undergone training nor was any arm issued to him.

While staying at home, he worked in close association with the local people as a social worker.

But, he was also arrested twice earlier.

To kill an arrested person after subjecting to severe torture and later heaving false charges is an inborn quality of the Indian security forces, Yoiheiba said.

Yoiheiba went on to say that the false claim of the PIB Defence Wing in all the newspapers yesterday that one 46-year old woman identified as Laishram Memchoubi of Thinungei had been abducted by UNLF has only iterated the fact that morale of the security forces has ebbed to such an extent after repeated defeats in the hands of UNLF that they have started talking nonsense.

Clarifying that UNLF nor its armed wing MPA have any connection with the reported abduction of the woman, Yoiheiba said if the said woman had been abducted by some other outfits, then they might be having some valid reasons.

Yoiheiba attributed the alleged misinformation campaign of the security forces to demean UNLF to not just repeated defeats in its hand but also in front of the international community.

The recent directives of the UN Committee on Human Rights to stop the atrocities being committed by the security forces in Manipur with immunity granted under AFSPA as well as for removal of the Act is the sign of defeat of India in the international community.

Now the security forces can no more cover up their inhuman activities, he added.

Coming out strongly against instigating some Kuki organisations based at Moreh by the security forces in levelling false charges on UNLF of abducting villagers from a refugee camp, Yoiheiba said fortunately, the matter has been cleared after a media team visited the village concerned and found refugees returning to their homes safe and sound.

This particular incident has yet again exposed false propaganda of the security forces.

Cautioning KSO; Hill Tribals Council, Moreh; Kuki Women's Union and Human Rights, Moreh and Kuki Inpi against falling prey to the ploy of the security forces, UNLF said that the stand taken up these social organisations against the outfit was really unfortunate.

Instead of helping the security forces and acting at the behest of some outside forces, it would be better to find out a direction where all of us should walk together, he added.

Instead of dancing to the tune of our common enemy, it would be better to go to the remote areas and understand how much our own people are suffering in the hands of the security forces, Yoiheiba said, adding that UNLF is ready to extend all possible assistant is in regard.

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