Imphal, August 28: To provide room for public to monitor activities of the Joint Task Forces (JTFs), the proscribed KYKL and UNLF have announced a working principle the JTFs should abide by.

A joint statement issued by KYKL's general secretary Namoijam Oken and his UNLF counterpart Narengbam Thabal informed that a competent body of the two outfits would investigate into all the activities that may be taken up by the JTFs.

Reports of the investigation will be submitted to the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) which will in turn submit the same to the general secretaries of the two outfits along with its (JCC) recommendations.

As such, all the activities of the JTFs should be approved by competent authorities of the UNLF and KYKL and entrusted to the JCC.

Regarding the mode of investigation, it laid down that information should be sought from all relevant sections in any case.

While intimating any individual on the necessity of a meeting with JTFs, the JTF members should first identify themselves and inform the family members of the individuals about the meeting so as to avoid any tension.

On questioning any individual, the two outfits conveyed that the JTFs should first request to divulge all the facts without concealing any related matter.

The individual will also be informed that he/she may face difficulties in case the JTFs come to know he/she is concealing certain information from other sources.

While questioning, the JTFs should not use any abusive word or resort to 'third degree method'.

Any individual in the custody of JTFs would be treated with due respect, they stated.

After questioning, the JTFs will escort the individuals to a place where there would be no threat to their security and in the meantime the family members should be duly informed.

Based on the findings of the investigation, a charge-sheet detailing the faults and irregularities committed by the individual will be prepared after a thorough examination and this will be submitted to the JCC.

The JCC will again re-examine the chargesheet before submitting to the general secretaries of the two outfits.

In case the report of the JTF and the JCC's observations are considered true after a minute study, the case will be entrusted to JCC for trial and to award punishment to the guilty person accordingly.

Elucidating the process of trial, the two outfits stated that the accused will be produced in a meeting attended by representatives of civil society organisations and media persons where all the charges levelled against the individual will be pronounced.

At this time, the accused will be provided opportunity to defend himself/herself.

They will also be given the opportunity to produce evidences to prove their innocence.

According to the decision taken by CSO representatives and all those attending the trial after studying the evidences and arguments and counter-arguments, the case will be decided.

In case the accused is convicted, he/she will be punished accordingly.

If, on the other hand, the accused is found innocent, he/she will be handed over to CSO representatives and family members with respect, it explained.

The two outfits have also laid down certain don'ts which the JTFs should strictly abide by.

The JTFs should not cause any inconvenience/difficulty while undertaking any of their (JTFs) activity apart from their security measures.

No demand, either in cash or kind, should be made from the people, particularly those involved in the case under investigation.

Likewise, no presents/gifts should be accepted from the family members or relatives of the individuals in a case.

While undertaking their activities, the JTFs should not do anything beneficial to officials of different Departments on personal level nor should they elicit any benefit from the officials on personal capacity.

While associating or living together with people, the JTFs should always behave politely keeping in mind that people are their strength and that they are people's servants.

To any proposal/suggestion put up by people, the JTFs should listen attentively.

In case, there is any stance of the two outfits on the proposal, the same should be intimated to the people.

If the two outfits have no stance on their proposal, the JTFs should tell the people that they will consider their proposal with senior cadres and that the matter will be intimated later.

The JTFs should not act bossy and they must refrain from warning/intimidating public either by words or gesture, declared the two outfits.

The two outfits further appealed to the public to inform them or publish through media in the event of JTF members not abiding by these guidelines. To avoid any unwanted incident, they further appealed to all concerned to go for meeting with JTFs members without any reservation as and when they are requested for a meeting in connection with a case.

It appealed to give true information when asked by JTFs and to refrain from any activity that may jeopardise security of JTF members.

Exuding that the joint initiative would not only lay a foundation for welfare of the people but also cultivate a work culture, the two outfits claimed that it is a movement to groom a new generation capable of thinking to live independently.

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