Bodies demand release as NIA nets UNLF trio
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 13 2024: Two top members of the Pambei-led United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and another person have been arrested in a joint operation carried out by Manipur Police, NIA and CRPF on Wednesday.

The arrested persons include Thokchom Thoiba, a self-styled army chief of the outfit, SS lieutenant colonel Laimayum Ingba, the head of its intelligence department, and their driver 'corporal' Landaba.

They were immediately put on a flight to Delhi for a thorough interrogation by National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials.

Thoiba was not a part of the Pambei-led UNLF when it signed a peace agreement with the Centre in November last year.

Led by Kh Pambei, the UNLF on November 29, 2023 became the first Meetei majority armed group to enter into a ceasefire agreement with the government and agreed to renounce violence.

Established in 1964, the UNLF has been active both within and outside the Indian territory.

Since 2014, the BJP-led Centre has signed agreements with several armed groups in the northeast to quell militancy and foster development in the region.

Additionally, a Suspension of Operations (SoO) with 21 Kuki-dominated groups has been in place since 2008 to ensure peace in Manipur's hilly regions, which the Manipur government unilateral withdrew in March alleging encroachment on forest land by two Kuki-dominated insurgent groups.

Meanwhile, strongly condemning arrest of the three UNLF members, different civil society organisations have demanded their unconditional release by Thursday noon.

Civil organisations like Federation of Civil Society Kangleipak (FOCS), United Mothers' Organisation (UMO), Manipur Women Federation, Indigenous People's Organisation Manipur (IPOM), Keithel Nupi Marup, Yelhoumi Kanba Lup and World Meetei Organisation (WMO) convened a meet on Wednesday and discussed arrest of three UNLF members.

After the meeting, FOCS president Th Manihar told media persons at DM university campus that there is no meaning of arresting members of an underground group which signed ceasefire agreement and had returned to the mainstream other than creating confusion among the public.

On the other hand, the outfit is shouldering immense responsibility in defending the Meetei community from deadly attacks by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist in their bid to disintegrate Manipur, Manihar said and warned that the organisations along with the people will launch intense agitation if the government of India does not release the trio by Thursday noon.

In protest against the arrests, people in Thoubal and Kakching districts took out a rally, demanding their immediate unconditional release.

Locals and meira paibi of Thoubal took to the streets protesting NIA's arrest of the three members of the UNLF.

The protesters closed shops in the market and took out the rally along NH102 from 5 pm.

Similarly at Kakching town, some locals ceased all the business activities and launched mass protest condemning arrest of the three Pambei-led UNLF members by the NIA.

The protesters stormed the Kakching district police station demanding unconditional release of the trio within 24 hours, and cautioning of agitation in case of their further detention.

Later, the masses also marched to the private residence of Kakching MLA Mayanglambam Ramesh-war at Kakching Makha Lou and demanded release of the arrested members to which the MLA assured to place the matter before the CM and authorities concerned.

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