IMPHAL, June 25: The Red Shield Division in a press statement has strongly condemned the false and malicious statements by the UNC published in leading newspapers on June 25 alleging that the operation conducted in area Shonglung was a fake encounter.
A press statement of the PIB has said, “Security Forces of the Red Shield Division had been working on reliable intelligence reports from various quarters about the presence of 15-20 heavily armed NSCN (K) cadres in the area of Kangchup Reserve Forest, Haochang and Nonei”.
“These cadres belong to the Mobile Group No 8 of NSCN (K) and have been supplied with sophisticated arms and ammunition from Myanmar. The group was operating in the areas astride the NH-37 and had chalked out a detailed plan to strike at Security Forces and government officials in the area of Tamei”, the statement said.
Further continuing the statement has said, “During the intense cordon and combing cum search operation in the dense jungles, a heavily armed UG group opened fire on the troops deployed in the cordon. After fierce exchange of fire for more than two hours and operation throughout the night, six cadres of the NSCN (K) were killed”.
“Subsequently on June 24, 2013, the battalion also located and dismantled another temporary hideout of this group in the area of Old Nonei and recovered a large quantity of ammunition, war like stores and rations. The remaining members of the Mobile NSCN (K) Group are still at large and intensive operations are in progress to neutralise these UG cadres”, it said.
The allegation that the cadres had been invited for a cup of tea with the Commanding Officer of Nonei Battalion is ridiculous and defies logic. The Security Forces are operating against the UG groups and do not indulge in fraternising with such elements”, it said.
Moreover, the operation at Shonglung was launched on June 21and neither Col Ajay Sharma nor Major Gagan were present in Nonei on June 22, as alleged by the UNC, it said.
“Shonglung is approximately 10 hours of travelling time from Nonei. Therefore, the cadres could not possibly have travelled from Nonei to Shonglung on the same day after having tea with the Commanding Officer as alleged”, it said.