Army refutes fake encounter slur
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 02, 2013: Strongly refuting allegations of fake encounter killing of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) cadre on December 31, 2012 morning, the Army through a statement issued by the PIB (DW) provided a detailed account on the incident.

Based on information about armed movement in Lamdangmai and Sangji villages, security forces of Red Shield Division laid ambushes in these areas on the night of December 30, 2012 and in the early hours of December 31, some movement was noticed and the security forces deployed in the ambush challenged this movement, said the statement.

Claiming that on being challenged, the unknown personnel started firing on the security forces, the statement maintained that security forces returned fire and one person was killed in the exchange of fire.

One .22 mm pistol, four live rounds and one fired case were recovered from the site apart from recovery of 14 fired cases of AK 47 on detailed search of the area.

According to intelligence reports, the deceased later identified as ZUF's SS Cpl Guangsinlung Dangmei (18) s/o Guangbi Dangmei of Nonei Bazar, had joined NSCN (IM) and was trained at Buning Camp.

He deserted NP Bn of NSCN (IM) in 2011 and joined ZUF, and was working in the rank of Corporal under SS Capt Abung and was also involved in the IFCs at Oktan and Tamenglong in 2012. He was also involved in the kidnapping of a Railway company employee for extortion on December 15, the PIB (DW) statement maintained while conveying that security forces under Rdd Shield Division have been targeting the underground activities being carried out in the area to ensure peace and rule of law.

The allegations of fake encounter are an afterthought by undesirable elements to pressurise the security forces.

It may be noted that in the past week several operations have been conducted in Nonei which have severely impacted the extortion racket, influence and fighting capability of undergrounds groups.

Over ground workers supporting terror activities have been arrested and several thousand rounds of ammunition have been recovered which has dealt a severe blow to these outfits.

The bandh call of ZSUM comes in wake of conclusive involvement of David Kamei a member of the student organization who was involved in assisting cadres of NSCN (K) and NNC to escape from security forces in Nonei, recounted the statement.

Contending that ZUF cadres have been visiting the house of Guangbi Dangmei at Nonei Bazar since this operation by security forces to concoct and plant malicious stories against the Assam Rifles at Nonei, it further maintained that 'as per the allegation of Guangbi Dangmei his son SS Cpl Guangsinlung Dangmei of ZUF had been discharged from the ZUF in the first week of December 2012. However, he neither brought the individual to the Police or Assam Rifles to register this event.

It may also be noted that the claim by these organizations trying to foment trouble is that SS Cpl Guangsinlung Dangmei of ZUF was picked by security forces at Khumji at 2230 hours on 30 Dec 2012.However, no one raised any alarm or approached the Police or Assam Rifles at Nonei till 9 AM on 31 Dec 2012 when the news of an encounter resulting in death of SS Cpl Guangsinlung Dangmei of ZUF had reached Nonei.

It is clarified that Assam Rifles has not picked up any person from Lukhambi village on December 30 as alleged in the press release, said the statement asserting that there is no prior knowledge of such a person named W Nanao with Assam Rifles and there has been no instance of such person coming to or leaving the camp at Nonei.

Further to this, it is added that some miscreants have illegally detained W Nanao alias Handsome working under duress as mentioned in the press release to make up a concocted story.

The Assam Rifles is committed to conducting' operation in a professional manner to rid the state of the scourge of terrorism.

The allegations made are a figment of the imaginations of some misguided people with ulterior motives.

The Assam Rifles calls upon all peace loving people of Nonei to condemn this attempt to malign the security forces and work together for the well being and progress of the region, added the release.

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