Imphal, October 06: While describing as blatant lie and a concocted claim by the Meghalaya police in the killing five NSCN (IM) cadres in an encounter yesterday, the NSCN/GPRN contended that two of the victims were civilians.

In a statement issued to the press, the outfit alleged that the five persons were tortured to death in the custody of the Meghalaya police.

The NSCN/GPRN in gravest term condemned the heinous crime committed on three cadres and two innocent civilian by a special operation team of Meghalaya police at Mawlyngad village in Sohrynkham on october 5, said the statement.

Identifying the victims as Chuba Walling, Imsang, Mixson, martin and Victor, the NSCN said the five including the latter two who are informed to be civilians were apprehended and �inhumanely� tortured to death.

Issuing misleading information and attempting to corroborate the stage managed encounter by implicating the victims as bank robbers is paradoxically bereft of substantial evidences, charged the outfit.

It further maintained that the mortal remains of the victims bearing excessive deep blue and black scars and wounds all over the bodies is testimony enough of being put to severely tortured and put to death rather than being slain in encounter, if any.

Providing more details of intense torture, NSCN ridiculed the absence of even a single bullet penetration mark on the vehicle body on which the five were travelling referring to the encounter theory presented by the police.

It also arised question on conducting post mortem without the presence of a magistrate as normal procedure necessitates.

During the period of ceasefire between the NSCN and GoI more than 20 innocent NSCN cadres/officials and civilians have been killed in Meghalaya alone with authorities concerned citing encounter casualty or other allegations, recalled the statement and construed such pretexts with the agenda of eliminating its members, subdue to peace process and tarnish the image.

Stating that NSCN is committed to the ceasefire ground rules and upholding social values by waging campaigns against anti-social elements, the outfit informed of taking serious note of unabated Indian State sponsored terrorism categorically commented thatGoI is answerable to its adverse policies before such conducts fracture all efforts to usher in peace.

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