Imphal, January 23, 2006: The militant United National Liberation Front (UNLF) today denied that Hmar and Paite villagers from south Manipur fled to neighbouring Mizoram to escape persecution at the hands of its members.
The outlawed group instead charged militants of the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) with harassing the villagers, forcing the exodus.
In a statement, Ksh. Yoiheiba, “senior publicity officer” of the UNLF, claimed that the villagers fled after the HPC (D) warned village chiefs against providing food and shelter to his organisation’s members. The UNLF also accused its rival of conniving with the army.
The statement dismissed allegations about the UNLF using the villagers as human shields as “false propaganda of Indian intelligence agencies” to strain the outfit’s relationship with the villagers.
“The UNLF still has a good relationship with the villagers. Such propaganda will not bear fruit,” it said.
Source: Telegraph
See also:
- Environmental Clearance of Tipaimukh Dam by MoEF (October 31st, 2008)
- Chakka bandh on Sep 18 against Tipaimukh dam (September 17th, 2008)
- 1 lakh Manipur villagers hit by bamboo flowering (September 2nd, 2008)
- Heavy security to be deployed on 99 km stretch of road to Tipaimukh dam (July 29th, 2008)
- Army launches Tipaimukh vigil (April 30th, 2008)