Manipur: KCP-PWG Rejects Surrender Ceremony, Calls July 21 Event a ‘Fake Drama’
Imphal, July 23: The banned Kangleipak Communist Party–People’s War Group (KCP-PWG) Military Council Unification has rejected the recent surrender ceremony held in Manipur, claiming that none of its active members participated in the event and describing it as a “fake surrender drama.”
In a statement released by the outfit’s Publicity and Research Officer (PRO), Chingkheinganba, the organisation said that no serving cadres or Central Committee members had surrendered. It maintained that the group remains fully operational under the leadership of Chairman Lamyanba Khuman and Vice Chairman Poirei Meitei, and continues to pursue its stated objective of an independent Kangleipak (Manipur).
According to the statement, the individuals who took part in the homecoming programme were not active members of the organisation. The outfit alleged that the participants included former members and civilians, including rickshaw pullers and drug users. It further claimed that similar surrender events had been organised in the past and referred to them as “fake surrender” programmes.
The KCP-PWG also stated that Laishram Ranjit alias Tam-Nganba, who introduced himself as the chairman of the outfit during the ceremony, had previously been expelled from the organisation for alleged anti-party and anti-social activities. It further claimed that Md Mani alias Ning-Tamba, Moirangthem Mohen alias Pari-Macha, and Oinam Somendro alias Lan-Ngamba had also been expelled earlier.
The outfit denied ever issuing single-barrel or double-barrel firearms to its members. It alleged that the weapons displayed during the surrender ceremony had been sourced by the Assam Rifles from Kuki groups rather than belonging to the organisation.
Expressing disappointment over the participation of the Manipur government in the event, the outfit said it was compelled to issue the clarification following extensive media coverage of the surrender programme.
The statement comes a few days after 46 alleged KCP-PWG cadres surrendered before Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh at the Mantripukhri Garrison in Imphal East on July 21. Led by Laishram Ranjit alias Tam-Nganba, the group surrendered 28 sophisticated weapons in a ceremony that the Manipur government described as a major step towards restoring peace in the state.
The claims made by the KCP-PWG in its statement have not been independently verified.
