Imphal: A Manipur Police morning bulletin reported that Indian security forces arrested three cadres of the outlawed People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the armed wing of the proscribed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), at the Manipur-Myanmar border on Tuesday.
The arrests came ahead of ‘Independence Demand Day’, which is being observed on Wednesday to mark the 47th anniversary of the banned RPF.
The police bulletin stated that the three PLA cadres were arrested in the general area between Border Pillars 72 and 73 at Yangoubung, under Moreh police station in Tengnoupal district, near the Myanmar border to the south.
The arrestees were identified as Chalamba Takkhelambam (23) of Takhel Makha Leikai, Imphal East; Sougrakpam Ojit (33) of Yaingangpokpi, Imphal East; and Sorokhaibam Manimatum (19) of Chairen Makha Leikai, Kakching district. The report added that the trio was later handed over to the concerned police station for further legal action.
Security forces intensified anti-insurgency operations amid the RPF/PLA’s observance of ‘Independence Demand Day’. On the occasion, RPF president MM Ngouba said in a statement that the outfit paid revolutionary salute to all martyrs for their supreme sacrifices in the ongoing struggle to liberate Manipur and its people.
Founded on February 25, 1979, the RPF has been actively leading the liberation movement. In its statement, the group extended greetings and fraternal solidarity to all allied organisations standing shoulder to shoulder in the shared struggle, while pledging collective dedication to the cause of the motherland.
Furthermore, the RPF urged the public not to believe the propaganda disseminated by the Government of India and what it described as “colonial media”, alleging that they are using divisive tactics to weaken the unity of Western Southeast Asian nations and suppress the liberation movement. “The covert agencies operating behind the scenes must be exposed,” the statement added.