Imphal, February 10 2009: The beating of an activist of the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) maintaining Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with the governments at the Centre and the State by the personnel of IRB last night has caused anger among the Kuki civil societies and members of the Joint Monitoring Group (JGM) of the SoO.

Representatives of the civil societies and a member of the JMG have warned that any untoward incident arising out of the matter will be the sole responsibility of the state government while expressing anguish over the assault of the activist who was released later last night.

Recounting the incident that occurred last night around 7.30 pm near the 3rd IRB Molnoi post at Pallel, the representatives of the Kuki based civil societies and a member of the JMG said during a press conference today that three personnel of the IRB from the post with arms detained an activist of the UKLF and beat him up black and blue inside the post.

The activist named Lalboy Haokip (22), son of M Thangkhosei Haokip of Pallel, was nabbed by some personnel who came in civil dress from the market place at Pallel.

The personnel were drunk, said the president of the Kuki Women forHuman Rights, Tengnoupal Block, Lalam Mate.

President of the Kuki Chiefs' Association (KCA), Chandel district, KM Holkhokhai Haokip was also present at the conference.

They said that the activist has been beaten up when he asked why the IRB personnel were shouting with drunk.

When representatives of the two bodies went to the post and request for release of the activist, they were order to go out with threatened to shoot at with the arms.

They also scolded the representatives, the representatives added.

Not only this, Mate went on to say, the IRB personnel are also indulging in collecting money from the vehicles servicing on the Imphal-Moreh road and others passing in front of the post.

They also demanded immediate removal of the IRB post from Molnoi and replaced them by the Assam Rifles.

If there demand is not consider by the government, the representatives also threatened to launch agitation by blocking the Imphal to Moreh passenger services.

Any untoward incidents arising out of the assault incident between the IRB and UKLF cadres, the sole responsibility should be bear by the government, they told reporters.

On the other hand, TL Jacob Thadou, a member of the JMG representing the UKLF in an interaction held separately with the reporters at an undisclosed place said, UKLF has stopped collection of money from the people since the enforcement of the SoO as the ground rules do not permit but breaking of the ground rules by the IRB by assaulting its cadres with false allegation is an intention to break the SoO.

Government should take up appropriate action, he demanded.

Taking advantage of the interaction, he also observed that the militants included in the SoO agreement are not keeping in the designated camps as agreed.

In such condition, they have started facing problem.

Now the situation arrived to blame why they included in signing the agreement, he bewildered and reiterated that if there happened to break the ground rules, the sole responsibilities will be for the government.

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