RPF junks AR claim on 'arrest with drugs'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 27 2023: Refuting the news report carried by a local daily with the headline 'Assam Rifles nabs PLA cadre with drugs in Manipur' based on a press release issued by IGAR (S) in the January 26 edition, the proscribed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) has clarified that the person though not mentioned in the report is unrelated and expelled from the outfit more than a decade back.

According to an RPF statement, the person namely Sairem Basanta Singh alias Bomcha alias Angamba (39) son of late Gopimacha Singh of Lakhipur Ward No.8 was not only expelled from the outfit but also took part in the government's home coming ceremony and utilised as a tool by the Assam Rifles.

It also said that Basanta's expulsion order was issued by the outfit's central headquarters on November 11,2011 .

The RPF statement issued by its deputy secretary of publicity Roben Khuman further said that Basanta was arrested by police in September, 2022 and sent to jail but Assam Rifles picked him up and utilised him by issuing ID card.

Questioning the reason behind the Assam Rifles spreading a false propaganda of arresting an active PLA cadre with drugs when the person utilised by the force been arrested with drugs, the RPF statement said that Basanta Singh was utilised as cat's paw by the Assam Rifles and discarded after being worthless.

The outfit also questioned if Basanta owns the drugs recovered from him.

While asserting that Assam Rifle's attempt to relate RPF with drug trade through 'Narcissistic Blame Shifting Tactics' would be worthless, the RPF statement said that the entire people of Manipur clearly understand RPF's fight against drugs to save future generation as well as the India triggered drug problem in Manipur.

It is questionable as to how contraband drugs reached and available abudently in Manipur through the highly militarised road, the RPF said.

According to the RPF statement, a key leader of Myanmar's revolutionary group the People's Defence Force (PDF) being sheltered by the Assam Rifles in Tengnoupal was nabbed with huge contraband drugs in December, 2022 by Assam Rifles posted there.

However, the PDF commander along with the seized drugs was released on the condition that PDF,attack Meetei revolutionaries staying in Tamu area of Myanmar, RPF said asked whereabouts of the seized drugs.

Further questioning reasons behind recent arrest of some Manipur police commando along with huge contraband drugs and arrest of Basanta with drugs, RPF said that these two drug haul cases could be connected with the drugs seized and let off by Assam Rifles.

Truth about the cases would come out through 'independent public inquiry' but no truth will come out as long as trust on India and state government continues, the RPF added.

Asking if the war against drugs initiated by Manipur state would be successful amidst the 'Drug Drama' being played by security forces particularly the Assam Rifles, RPF said that PLA cadres are known as 'Lanmei Thanbi' by the people of Manipur in view of their ability to move from one place to another very swiftly in the hills.

There have been reports of Assam Rifles uncovering movement of PLA cadres and this came out to be true.

When the Assam Rifles gets report of movement of 'Lanmei-Than bi', why did not the force detect standing poppy plants grown right under their nose, RPF said and questioned if poppy plants in vast areas of Manipur are jointly grown by Assam Rifles and the mercenaries that the paramilitary force sponsored.

Chief minister N Biren Singh often disclosed about involvement of 'armed men' in poppy plantation in Manipur but CM Biren himself is in serious headache on whether to hear people's voice againt the drug menace or to act as per advice of the drug sponsor Delhi, RPF said and questions if the 'armed men' the CM is referring to is the Assam Rifles.

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