Utonglok Koireng Village Authority in Kangpokpi district, on Thursday, denied that one Khupngam Koireng, son of Teba Koireng, who was arrested by Assam Rifles during a combing operation from Dolaithabi Area on grounds that he was involved with the proscribed KRA, is a civilian and has no connection with the said outfit, nor the recent communal crisis in the state.
A release signed by Secretary of the Village Authority, R Rithang Koireng, also clarified that the real name of the arrested individual is Serto Khupngam, son of Serto TebaKom, and not the name that was mentioned in the papers.
It added that Assam Rifles arrested Serto following the gunfire exchange between Assam Rifles and suspected Kuki Militants at Dolaithabi area in Imphal East District on Wednesday.
He also denied the report which said a 9mm Pistol was recovered from the individual’s possession by the Assam Rifles, terming it false and added that the Assam Rifles misinformed the same.
He further said that Serto is a civilian, who rears livestock at a village and further mentioned that he is the present secretary of Utonglok Baptist Church.
The secretary refuted the claims made in the papers which said of Serto’s involvement with proscribed KRA, and asserted that such is an attempt to malign the image of the Koireng Community in Manipur, mostly people of the community residing at Utonglok Village. It appealed to the public not to be carried away by such misleading information.
