To bridge this unfortunate trust deficit and to ensure the smooth progress of the peace talks, the UNLF urged the GoI to immediately drop the baseless charges against the MPA COAS In-Charge, Chief Intelligence and Sgt. Th. Laandaba and to release them at the earliest
TFM Desk
The Pambei-led United National Liberation Front (UNLF), Manipur which has entered into peace agreement with India Government, has come strongly against “the recent arrests of MPA Chief of Army Staff In-Charge Thokchom Sidabamapu, Chief Intelligence Laimayum Ingba and Sgt. Thounaojam Laandaba by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the 13th of March, 2024.
A statement issued by media coordinator Charairongba Thokchom said the outfit “strongly feels that such actions are against the ground rules of the peace agreement signed between the party and the Government of India on the 29th of November, 2023”.
It further said as soon as news of the arrests broke, the party authority had a meeting with the Chief Minister of Manipur. The CM said that no prior information was given regarding the arrests. However, he also confided that he informed the Home Ministry that the arrests would serve only to drive a wedge into the trust-building process.
The CM also added that the NIA informed him that it was an inter-state case and that he had no say in the matter. Lastly, he assured that the state government would do their level best with the Centre to secure their release at the earliest, it maintained.
The statement also asserted that the party also contacted higher authorities of the GoI and the NIA regarding the matter. The NIA confirmed that the three party members were in their custody. They also informed the party that any discussion or meeting regarding the case would not be possible while the investigation is in progress.
It further said the party authority also met members of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and urged them to secure the release of the three party members at the earliest, otherwise there would be a high chance of a deadlock in the peace talks. The IB assured that they would look into the matter. The party feels that the NIA’s actions are tantamount to knowingly jeopardising the peace talks so that it doesn’t bear the desired fruits, it added..
To bridge this unfortunate trust deficit and to ensure the smooth progress of the peace talks, the UNLF urged the GoI to immediately drop the baseless charges against the MPA COAS In-Charge, Chief Intelligence and Sgt. Th. Laandaba and to release them at the earliest.