AR condemns police for releasing four UNLF rebels on bail

Silchar: The Assam Rifles (AR) has expressed unhappiness and criticised Manipur police’s action to release four cadres of United National Liberation Front (UNLF), a militant outfit, on bail hours after arrest and handing them over to the police recently. An Assam Rifles communiqué on Tuesday said on June 19, in a mobile vehicle check post established by the Army in Manipur, four suspected cadres of UNLF were apprehended along with a 51mm mortar and handed over to the police. However, within hours, all four were released on bail. “The endeavours to trace and apprehend the miscreants should not go in vain as it leads to recycling of the perpetrators and continuation of violence,” the Assam Rifles said.Sources said the AR has deployed over 95 columns to maintain law and order and restore peace in violence-hit Manipur. However, the ongoing situation is extremely concerning due to the complexities of banned insurgent groups like the Peoples’ Liberation Army and UNLF joining the common people and instigating violence. The weapons stolen from the police armoury are yet to be fully recovered. These are unfortunately being used with impunity in the conflict zones. Efforts of the security forces are being undermined by such blatant misuse of law in which even suspected cadres found with weapons are being recycled within hours, the AR sources added. “It is important that the state police and other authorities act promptly to recover the remaining weapons, prevent their misuse and take strict actions against the apprehended insurgents trying to disturb the law and order of the state,” the AR communiqué said.