Imphal, February 13: Refuting the claim of Commander of 3 Corps Lt Gen ZU Shah that �militants� have been pushed out from Parbung and Thanlon sub-divisions of Churachandpur and the entire stretch of CCpur-Tipaimukh road through Operation Dragnet, United National Liberation Front (UNLF) observed that it was only an overstatement intended to hide the ground realities.

In a statement, senior publicity officer of UNLF said that this was amply proved by airlifting (not using the road) the mediapersons to Thanlon where the press briefing was done along with a few selected individuals and NGOs who are in their good books.

The Indian General made unfounded remarks implicating UNLF/MPA as solely responsible for the displacement of a few hundred Hmar and Paite villagers to Mizoram in the aftermath of the clash between the MPA and HPC (D)-army combined force, the statement said.

But the unfounded allegations of the army to implicate UNLF/MPA as the troublemaker was negated by the revelations of a few villagers to the media persons that UNLF did not create any problem for the villagers while they were staying at their villages.

These villagers who wanted to remain anonymous because of harassment and intimidation by security forces, narrated their miseries to the media-persons that the security forces forcibly used them as booby trap detectors in advancing to MPA positions.

The security forces also used them to cut jungles and clear road-sides.

This shows the hollowness of the Army�s propaganda and speaks volumes of the villagers� woes at the hands of the security forces, the statement said.

The UNLF statement informed that MPA 292 Bn gave a befitting reply to the tall talks of the army by making a surprise blow to a detachment of the army at Noupanglon in Henglep sub-division on February 7, the very day the press meet was held Thanlon.

In the fierce gun-battle two personnel of the security forces were killed, the statement claimed, adding that one MPA fighter made the supreme sacrifice in this battle.

UNLF statement further said that on February 9, the day MPA celebrated its 19th anniversary, a mobile fighting team of the same 292 Bn attacked a column of the army at S Lailong village along CCpur-Thanlon Road which the army claimed to have been cleared of �militants.

The place is only about 5 hour walking distance from Thanlon sub-divisional headquarters, the statement said, adding that the fighting began early morning and continued till late in the evening.

Several casualties were reported on the side of the security forces but MPA suffered no casualties in the said battle, UNLF claimed.

Meanwhile, in the valley, a rifleman of 15 JK Light Infantry was killed at Ningthoukhong on February 8 in a bomb explosion executed by a demolition squad of MPA, the statement said, adding that UNLF/MPA deeply regretted the causing injury to a civilian in the said attack.

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