Imphal, March 16: Reacting to the report filed by some individuals claiming to be representing Kukis of Moreh that UNLF cadres in collaboration with the Myanmarese army harassed about 400 villagers taking shelter at Laijang village before they were forcibly led to Myanmar, the outfit remarked that the false malicious propaganda and the subsequent indefinite bandh called in Moreh were all perpetrated at the instigation of the Intelligence wing of security forces.

A statement issued by UNLF's senior publicity officer Ksh Yoiheiba clarified that the attempt to tarnish the image of UNLF/MPA was an off-shoot of the wanton firing of mortar shells by security forces towards the MPA base at Khengjoi thereby forcing the villagers to flee in their endeavour to advance up to the MPA position in December last year.

The wanton firing by security forces towards the civilian populated villages was motivated by three different factors� first, they feared open battle with MPA cadres, second, they were intent upon causing heavy casualty on the civilians so that they can blame UNLF/MPA for the miseries of the villagers and third, they wanted to use the deserted villages and churches as their camps and to use villagers who could not flee as human shields.

About 1000 villagers who deserted their homes in the incident took refuge at Molcham village where they were given food and clothes by MPA cadres.

Later the villagers reached Moreh through Awa.

Rather than the usual road, the villagers went through Awa for they feared that they would be used as human shields in case they fall into the hands of security forces.

On their arrival at Moreh, the Meitei Council Moreh opened a relief camp and they were given all possible help.

Apprehensive that the Government of India may face harsh censure in case the suffering of the villagers reach the UN, some Kuki organisations acting at the command of security forces, closed the relief camp of Moreh and shifted the villagers from there in 4/5 Shaktiman trucks hired from security forces thereby saving the security forces from possible humiliation.

About 400 displaced villagers who took shelter at MPA camps at Laijang village at the time are still staying with MPA helping one another even though some have returned to their villages while some others have moved to places convenient to them.

The fact is known to the villagers of Laijang and surrounding villages, Yoiheiba said.

As such, the malicious campaign undertaken by some Kuki organisations at the behest of security forces, who turned their back to the villagers in times of hardships, would not be able to affect the cordial and fraternal relationship between the villagers and the MPA cadres.

In a similar case, Intelligence wing of the Government of India persuaded KSO to organise a rally at New Delhi falsely accusing UNLF/MPA of planting landmines in Kuki villages.

In the backdrop of these two incidents, New Delhi has been accusing the neighbouring countries of China and Myanmar for sheltering and giving logistic support to UNLF, Yoiheiba observed.

The outfit appealed to the media fraternity to make a spot enquiry and to inform the facts to the public.

Only then the true identity of security forces and their accomplices can be exposed to the public.

The outfit asserted, particularly to the Kuki community, that the security forces are the common enemy of all the ethnic groups of the Manipur.

It further reminded of the PIL filed recently at Guwahati High Court by Tuyang village chief Limkhojam Haokip and secretary Tonglet against atrocities committed by 16 AR posted at Holenjang in their village and against AR personnel using the villagers as forced labour and planting of landmines in the village roads.

Since then, AR personnel have been threatening the two petitioners, the outfit asserted.

Quoting villagers who left their homes in secret, Yoiheiba noted that AR personnel have been preventing movement of Hengsi villagers beyond the village besides forcing the women to keep watch in the night while using men as forced labour.

At present, many women are being raped by AR personnel resulting in pregnancy of three women.

Out of them, one pregnant woman has been taken away by some AR personnel.

It is still unclear whether the victimised woman has been murdered or sold away, Yoiheiba quoted villagers.

The outfit also took serious note of the rape and the attempt to murder a girl by AR personnel at Kotlen yesterday as was widely published in media.

The malicious propaganda being floated against the UNLF which has been waging a war to liberate the whole Manipur just for some money given to them by security forces while turning a blind eye to the atrocity, murder and rape committed by security forces against the people of the State needs a serious introspection on the part of the Kuki community, UNLF noted.

It observed that the conduct of KSO and some other Kuki organisations would not only jeopardise the unity amongst the ethnic groups of the State but would also put the destiny of Kuki community in perilous position.

Such actions and thoughts to barter the collective destiny and lives of their own brothers with some amount of money is too much, Yoiheiba added.

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