UNLF bans; offer tribute

Imphal, June 05: The underground United national Liberation Front (UNLF) has issued a press statement instructing Executive Engineers to stop with immediate effect practices of writing and issuing cheques at private residence or elsewhere other that at the office premises concerned. The statement issued by the outfit's assistant secretary (publicity) of Central Committee Secretariat also said all works relating to writing and issue of cheques particularly for contract/supply works should be done at the office premises concerned openly under the supervision of the immediate superior officer. Meanwhile, a separate press statement of the organization offered its revolutionary salute to Pte Thougatpa alias Momo s/o of Huidrom Chaoba of Wangkhei Thangjam Leikai. While highlighting the contribution of Thougatpa in the revolutionary movement and untiring effort to unite various underground organizations the statement charged Manipur police commando of killing Thougatpa in a fake encounter. Justifying the allegation, it said Thougatpa was picked up from a Sagolband Tera residence on May 31 at around 11 pm where he was sent for a party assignment. But the Imphal West commando team took him towards Chandranadi under Wangoi police station and pumped 30 bullets at the captive only to misinform the public of Thougatpa being killed in an encounter. Stating that instead of police claim of recovery of arms from the deceased, Thougatpa had only a WLL telephone with him, said the UNLF. Referring to past instances of State forces repeatedly trudging on the path of indian security force of shooting arrested underground members and later branding them to have been killed in encounter the UNLF said a time will come when the police commando personnel would certainly face punishment for war crimes of slaying unarmed opponents. The statement said Thougatpa was earlier arrested on two occasions and served jail term only to rejoin the party in March 2003. A firm believer in the UNLF ideology Thougatpa completed MPA's basic military training in 1999 and dedicated himself to the revolutionary cause till the last breath, hailed the outfit. The UNLF on behalf of its armed wing the MPA also expressed solidarity to the suffering of the bereaved family members of Thougatpa and prayed for the peaceful rest of his soul in the heavenly abode.