Ukhrul: The banned Manipur-based outfit People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREEPAK) (PRO) said it paid tribute to two of its members and a self-styled captain of the Revolutionary People’s Front/People’s Liberation Army (RPF/PLA) who were killed in a clash with KNF-B in Myanmar on Wednesday morning.
The bodies of the three cadres killed along the Indo-Myanmar border were retrieved by the 5th Assam Rifles, included two members of PREEPAK (PRO) and one from RPF/PLA. As per sources, they were transported to Pallel Police Station by the 21 Assam Rifles and Machi police personnel Thursday night.
An altercation reportedly took place at Pallel Police Station due to lack of clarity on the retrieval and transport details from Myanmar. However, Machi Police eventually handed over the bodies to their families. In an emotional tribute, locals gathered at Kakching Lamkhai before the bodies were taken for final rites.
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According to a statement by PREEPAK (PRO) Assistant Publicity Secretary L. Ningsingbana, the incident occurred while a joint team of Manipur-based groups, including KCP, KYKL, PREEPAK, PREEPAK (PRO), RPF/PLA, and UNLF, was conducting a mission to protect Manipur’s borders.
As per a statement, the encounter took place during a raid on a KNF(B) hideout and led to the deaths of PLA Captain Oinam Gulu, PREEPAK (PRO) self-styled Captain Wahengbam Saratkumar, and PREEPAK (PRO) Lance Corporal Nongmaithem Boneysana.
The clash involved a joint team of KNF-B and the People’s Defence Force (PDF), with social media sources indicating that there were casualties among KNF-B cadres and weapons seized during the encounter.
Sources say the two PREEPAK (PRO) cadres will be laid to rest at Thongak Lairembi hillock in Iroisemba, Imphal West. The RPF/PLA cadre’s body will be taken for tributes prior to burial at a different site tomorrow.
It may be mentioned that families of the deceased had earlier conducted symbolic last rites, believing the bodies would be irretrievable.
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