Imphal, December 13: Referring to the recovery of 17 IEDs from Litan area and Samram Lamkhai and subsequent neutralisation as reported in local dailies today, the proscribed UNLF noted that the twin incident was just a part of the continuing overt and covert warfare of the security forces aimed at subduing the liberation movement.

A statement issued by UNLF Senior Publicity Officer Ksh Yoiheiba asserted that the top brass of the security forces have acknowledged the inability to contain the liberation movement by military might alone.

Under such circumstances, the security forces have been scheming to keep away the people from the liberation movement by killing, injuring and causing hardships to the people through various overt and covert means, the outfit alleged.

Guided by such malicious programme, security forces have been indulging in the vile propaganda warfare of charging insurgent groups with planting bombs in civilian areas not only in the hill districts but also in the valley.

Under cover of such false propaganda, there have been many incidents of security forces of planting bombs and hurling hand grenades in civilian populated areas in the past, Yoiheiba asserted.

Pointing to the latest propaganda about recovery of a large number of bombs allegedly planted by UG groups so that they can continue with their alleged malicious secret warfare without being indicted, the UNLF cautioned the people against such activities of the security forces.

The outfit also listed some extra-judicial activities of security forces but covered up by false propaganda but well known to the people including killing of innocent civilians after picking them up from their homes and subsequently covering up their act by making false allegation that the deceased (whom they dressed up in combat dresses after killing) was killed in encounter, that arms were recovered from him and that he was an insurgent.

They (security forces) are also indulging in random killings of civilians by dressing themselves in civilian clothes and posing as UG cadres.

One such party of AR troops dressed in civilian clothes was taught a befitting lesson by the people of Sangai Yumpham, it remarked.

The act of using civilians as human shield while going for operations against insurgents, luring youths to pose as surrendered UG cadres with the false promise of giving them jobs.

Causing large scale casualty by setting off bombs in crowded areas at times of festivals for which UG groups are falsely indicted thereby making it a part of international terrorism are some of the extra-judicial activities perpetrated by security forces through overt means, alleged Yoiheiba.

In addition, the security forces have been accusing the UNLF for the casualties and deaths caused by land mines planted by them (security forces) along jungle roads used by villagers in hill districts and around remote villages.

Besides using innocent villagers as mine sweepers and human shields in their offensive against insurgents, the security forces deliberately shot dead many villagers only to blame the UG groups for the crime with the false propaganda that the villagers were killed in firing by UG groups.

In their vile warfare backed up by a malicious propaganda machinery, the security forces are being assisted by some armed and unarmed groups of hill districts who could be reportedly utilised by giving them some money.

The same practice is being employed in the ongoing operation at Dingpi and Somtal area, asserted Yoiheiba.

The near simultaneous recovery of 17 IEDs yesterday is a part of a conspiracy hatched by the security forces to kill several numbers of innocent people by setting off bombs in the valley too and to blame the insurgents for their criminal act.

The outfit cautioned the people of the land to be alert against the alleged conspiracy of security forces who are exploiting the existing Manipur-India armed conflict situation to victimise the indigenous people in every possible manner.

The outfit also called upon all the revolutionary organisations of the land to unite together in order to fructify the ongoing movement for restoration of the lost sovereignty.