Imphal, February 12: Strongly reacting to the murderous assault on the general secretary of AMWJU by three gunmen at his residence on February 9 morning, the UNLF, PREPAK, PLA and KYKL have clarified that they had nothing to do with the attack and have condemned the incident.

In a statement issued on February 10, one day after the incident, UNLF said that the attack on Ratan Luwangcha was nothing but an attempt to muffle the voice of the press and added that it was an act perpetrated by those who have no knowledge about democratic values.

Such an attack on media persons who have been rendering their service to highlight the suffering of the people can only be the handiwork of the agents of the enemy.

Strongly condemning the attack, UNLF said that all right thinking persons ought to condemn the dastardly assault.

Addressing all the revolutionary organisations of the place, UNLF said that if they are involved in the attack, they should clarify immediately or else they will be taken as enemies of the people.

The outfit also wished speedy recovery to Ratan.

PREPAK has also clarified that it was not behind the attack on Ratan.

In a statement issued on February 10, the outfit said that PREPAK has and will never do anything to intimidate journalists who are the eyes and ears of the people and added it strongly condemns the life attempt on Ratan.

The outfit also urged all other armed outfits to clarify if their men were involved in the attack and reiterated that in its armed struggle it has and will never intimidate journalists.

The RPF also conveyed that its cadres were not involved in the attack.

The KYKL has also clarified that it was not involved in the life attempt on Ratan.

In a statement, KYKL said that the media is the watch dog of society and added that it has a huge responsibility in leading society.

The media is the water while the people are the fish, it added.

Intimidating the media amounts to gagging its mouth, said KYKL and added that if the media is not allowed to function freely then it would mean the decay of society as a whole.

Instead of throttling the voice of the media no efforts should be spared to strengthen the media, said KYKL and added that a strong media is proof of a strong democracy.

If the society is to progress then it is important that the media is also strengthened, said the statement and charged that the life attempt on Ratan amounts to pulling down the society.

As part of the great civil society, the media needs to be strengthened for it is the civil society which can decide the fate of a people, said KYKL and added that winning over the media is calling card of the KYKL.

Even if punishment is indeed necessary to be given to a journalist, given the important they play in society, the wrongs can be forgiven hundred times and hundreds of opportunities may be given to them to mend their ways, said the statement further.

KYKL also shared the grief and trauma of the injured scribe, his family members and the media fraternity.

The United Kuki Liberation Front has also condemned the attack on the scribe.

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