Senior citizens want GoI clarify on position of UNLF chief

Imphal, Oct 23 : Government of India should provide an official statement on the controversy arising out of contradicting reports over the arrest of UNLF chairman, RK Meghen and subsequent handover to Indian authority, the Senior Citizens for Society Manipur has demanded.

Secretary of Society, Khaidem Mani, talking to media today, observed that the statement given by Union Home secretary GK Pillai during his visit in the state hinted that GoI has the knowledge of arrest of Meghen in Bangladesh but handing him over to India seems to be not clear.

The proscribed UNLF has, in its statement, given the FIR case number registered with a police station in Bangladesh.

But Pillai's statement on his arrival at Imphal airport which was contradicted with his own revelation on the next made on the next during a seminar at Hotel Classic has thrown the people of the state into a confusion state.

Under the Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, life to right and freedom of expression of a citizen of India could not be violated.

If government acted against this right, it will be against the Constitution of the country, he observed.

Saying that he was speaking as defender of human right, Mani said that it is not a truth one for India and Bangladesh remaining silent on the matter of arrest of UNLF chairman even though media had repeatedly wrote about him.

Demanding exact position of rebel leaders when such contradicting reports come up, cannot be treated as supporting an outlaw organisation.

It should be treated as a lament of human right defender.

Amidst the contradicted statements,agency reports said in Dhaka reported high official of the Ministry of Home Affair in Bangladesh denied such action in Dhaka.

A combined team of Indian intelligence RAW and Bangladeshi military intelligence in a joint operation nabbed Indian outlawed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) Chairman, R K Meghen alias Sanayaima, Lalmatia area under Mohammadpur Police Station in the city, according to Indian media reports(The New Nation) .

However, high official of the Ministry of Home Affair in Bangladesh yesterday denied such action in Dhaka.

Indian Union Home Secretary G.K.Pillai was also quoted by web news Oneindia to have said that Sanayaima was not arrested by the Bangladesh authorities, not of India.

"He (Meghen) is not arrested by anybody in India.

I also read the news, that he has been arrested by the Bangladesh authorities.

We have no information beyond that," Indian Express quoted Pillai.

Newspaper offices in Manipurs state capital Imphal received emails about arrested Meghen, a leader of Meitei rebel group of north-east Indian insurgents.

The UNLF is arguably the most potent militant outfit in Manipur.

The arrest of the elusive Meghen is expected to cripple the outfit of some 6,000 fighters.