IMPHAL, Jan 8 MNS NNN : Two imposters, including a woman who had allegedly contrived to make seven youths to join in a “surrender drama” allegedly orchestrated by 42 Assam Rifles have been taken into police custody even as the victims reportedly fled the Assam Rifles camp after they came to know the whole ploy.
The matter came to light after the seven victimized youths along with their parents disclosed it at a press conference held at the Manipur Press Club here on Tuesday.
They identified themselves as Elangbam Muhindro, 20, son of E Leirang, Nongthombam Johny, 21, son of N Kumar, Moirangthem Oken, 30 and Moirangthem Premkanta, 21, sons of M Kunjamohan, Thokchom Milan, 25, son of Th Rameshwor, Ningthoujam Herojit, 21, son of N Jiten and Moirangthem Thoiba, 21, son of M Shanta, all residents of Heirok Part-II Maning Leikai in Thoubal district of Manipur.
Moirangthem Thoiba said one Sagolsem Ongbi Purnima Devi aged 38, a resident of Andro Kharam Dam Mathak in Imphal East in collusion with another man named Thokchom Rameshwor from Heirok Part-II Maning Leikai allegedly took them away (the seven youths) to the 42 AR post, Chandel on the pretext of recruiting them in the post.
Purnima Devi, wife of Sagolsem Gambir, a surrendered People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and Rameshwor involved in the fraud, never revealed the true identity of Gambir while collecting them for the recruitment, Thoiba said.
When they reached the AR post, Chandel on January 4, Gambhir was found there clad in AR uniform. Then, a Major at the post recorded their particulars, he added.
Then, another man, a Meitei also recorded their particulars and later gave them a form asking them to sign on it, but the form was found writing with “MDF (KYKL)”, he added.
The man with the AR post then assured them that they would be recruited in the AR free of cost and that the Government would pay Rs 4000 each to them every month, apart from paying another few lakhs of rupees after around 3 years of joining even if they missed the chance to become AR men, he said.
Feeling suspicious on the nature of the AR officials, they told the whole thing to their families over phone while staying at the post. Then, the families told them to leave the AR post in any case. They then, left the AR post the next day, that is, on January 5, he added.
Purnima and Rameshwor, the two persons involved in the cheating were handed over to Thoubal Police Station on January 5 after being questioned them on the incident by locals at the local club of Heirok-Part-II Maning Leikai.
Meanwhile a press hand out released by HG IGAR S said the story is incorrect and baseless. 42 Assam Rifles authorities did not approach any locals for joining insurgent groups for peace process / surrenders. All cadres brought by leaders of KYKL (MDF) for the ongoing peace process are verified at multiple levels. Youths namely N. Herojit (21), Th. Milan (25), M. Premkant (21), N. Johny (21), E. Muhindro (20), M. Thoiba (21) and M. Oken (25) approached 42 Assam Rifles for surrenders. However, after preliminary investigation at battalion level they were not found part of the group. Thus, these seven youths were returned.
PRO, HQ IGAR (S) further stated that the press release was aimed at defaming the Assam Rifles and interrupting the ongoing peace process between Government of India and KYKL (MDF). He assured that cadres are being enrolled after deliberate verification process by Assam Rifles and Police Authorities and only genuine cadres will be brought forward for the ongoing peace process it was added.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/two-held-for-forcing-youths-attend-surrender-drama/
