Imphal, Jul 11: The proscribed UNLF has asked one Naorem Basanta Singh s/o N Ibomcha of Kakching Wairi Senapati Leikai to surrender to the outfit within July 20 in connection with a rape case.

Basanta is informed to be the main accused in the case which occurred at around 8.10 pm on June 1 along the Kakching-Irengband road where a woman named Thangjam Pramo Devi was molested/raped.

Contending that upon apprisal of a body formed to protest the incident, the UNLF had set up a team of Central Special force (CSF) to probe the incident and subsequently summoned Basanta, a statement of the UG organisation informed that the accused spurned the intimation to state his position on the matter.

Highlighting that the UNLF would not tolerate misconduct against women folk of the society, the statement opined that in case Basanta do not respond positively to the outfit's gesture he would be declared a 'proclaimed offender' and punished accordingly.

It also prevailed upon some meira paibis of the accused's locality to cease from campaigns for protection of the guilty opining that the case is crucial on futures of women folk of the State.

Rather than patronising a guilty person it would be more positive had the meira paibis made more concerted effort in finding out the actual facts failing which the very foundation and integrity of meira paibi movement would be questionable.

UNLF also suggested to the meira paibis to carry out their societal obligations in a transparent manner and principle of protecting the society from anti-social elements rather than demeaning their objectives by sheltering the guilty on account of the accused being a local youth.

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