AR issues rebuttal

IMPHAL, May 31: Reacting to the article "Civilians do not fight with armed militants in Ethnic Clash" written by  Jagat Thoudam and published in this paper, the Assam Rifles has asserted that "the article apart from being ‘ex parte’ and lacking any objectivity, is outrightly baseless, defamatory & apparently aimed at spreading hatred against the Assam Rifles as also incite animosity between the two communities." In a statement, it said in these trying times in Manipur, nothing could be more important than the need to comply with journalistic ethics & airing stories with facts sans fabricated sweeping allegations/assessments, something which this article is "riddled with". Assam Rifles request adequate editorial oversight to be exercised while reporting matters on security & casting aspersions on a force with impeccable record, it said.