My father’ll fight for free Manipur till death: rebel leader’s son
December 2nd, 2010 - 9:12 pm ICT by IANSGuwahati, Dec 2 (IANS) One of India’s most wanted separatist leaders Rajkumar Meghen, chairman of the outlawed United National Liberation Front (UNLF), would continue to fight for independence of the northeastern state of Manipur until his last breath, his son Mei Chinglen said Thursday.
“I would simply say he would fight until his last breath for the people of Manipur,” Chinglen told journalists here.
Sleuths of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Tuesday arrested Meghen from near Motihari in Bihar’s East Champaran district when the rebel leader was trying to cross over to Nepal.
The 63-year-old Meghen was then taken to New Delhi on transit remand and was being brought to Assam’s main city of Guwahati late Wednesday.
The rebel leader was supposed to be brought before a local court in Guwahati as there were some pending cases - but Meghen was not brought.
“I came from Imphal to meet my father, but then we don’t know his whereabouts,” Chingleng said.
“It was a big drama enacted by the Indian government regarding my father’s arrest. In fact, he was arrested in Bangladesh on Oct 29 this year.”
The nearly 6ft tall Meghen was sought by the Interpol with Red Corner notices served against him with criminal charges ranging from murder to kidnappings to robberies.
“With Meghen’s arrest, almost all the top brass of the UNLF barring just one or two are in jail,” a senior Manipur Police official said.
The UNLF is the most influential of the nearly 19 odd rebel armies in Manipur with the outfit since its inception in 1964 fighting for an independent homeland for the majority Meitei community in a state of 2.4 million people.
Although the NIA has claimed Meghen was arrested in Bihar Tuesday, doubts have been expressed that the rebel leader could have been in the custody of the Indian government after he was handed over by Bangladesh in late September after he was captured in that country.
Dhaka had handed over at least 20 top northeast militant leaders and their families to India after capturing them in Bangladesh.
- Manipuri separatist leader Meghen nabbed in Bihar - Dec 01, 2010
- I was not arrested in India, claims UNLF head - Dec 03, 2010
- UNLF chairman, 18 other separatists formally charged - Feb 15, 2011
- Chargesheet filed against 19 UNLF members for sedition - Feb 16, 2011
- Bangaladesh arrested UNLF chairman: Pillai - Oct 17, 2010
- Two Manipur militants arrested in Guwahati - Oct 12, 2010
- Banned Manipuri militant outfit's leader, aide held - Jul 05, 2011
- Pillai says no information on arrest of top UNLF militant in Bangladesh - Oct 19, 2010
- Kith, Kin of arrested UNLF chairman demand his whereabouts - Nov 14, 2010
- Bihar to conserve tree associated with Mahatma Gandhi - Jan 05, 2012
- Militants gun down man in Assam - Aug 13, 2011
- Six militants of Bodo group arrested - Jul 30, 2010
- Six Maoists gunned down in Motihari - Mar 14, 2011
- Two suspected criminals lynched in Bihar - Apr 27, 2011
- Bihar pledges to preserve Orwell's birthplace - again - Apr 24, 2012
Tags: champaran, guwahati, imphal, independent homeland, indian government, investigation agency, last breath, late september, local court, motihari, national investigation, national liberation front, northeastern state, police official, rebel armies, rebel leader, separatist leaders, state of manipur, top brass, united national