Imphal, December 13: The proscribed KYKL has offered revolutionary salutes to Lt Hamom Great (37) alias Phulindro of Bishnupur Ward number 11, senior NCO Sgt Mutum Deban alias Amu (26) of Oksu Mamang Leikai and senior NCO Sgt Thokchom Chingkhei alias Binodkumar (26) of Kumbi Awang Leikai who were shot dead by police commandos at Hotel City Inn at North AOC on December 10.Salutes have also been paid to Pvt Takhellambam Gyaneshor alias Jutin (28) of Wangoo Hodam Leirak and Pvt Laishram Surchandra alias Loya (30) of Nungoo Chingya Part II shot dead by personnel of 21 Assam Rifles last night at about 11.30 at a spot in between Yelang Khangpokpi and Thongjao.

Saluting Lt Great, the outfit in a statement today said that he was a brave and a valiant member of the MY Lanmee and in his death KYKL has lost one ots most valuable men.

Sgt Deban and Chingkhei were also invaluable assets of the outfit said the statement and added that they were disciplined and committed.

The death of the three cadres is a big loss to the KYKL which will be hard to fill up.

Asserting that the three were not killed in an encounter but done to death in custody, KYKL said that all the three of them were unarmed on the day they were killed.

The arms that were claimed to have been recovered from them were planted by the police commandos, said the statement and claimed that the arms 'recovered' from them were given to the SI in charge of the operation by an officer from the Imphal West police at DM College canteen.

Killing after over powering a militant is not a new tactic adopted by the State police, said the statement and added that the three were killed after a 'friend' of Lt Great betrayed them and passed on the information to the police.

The betrayal is a valuable lesson for the KYKL, it added.

Admitting that the KYKL was behind the ambush on a convoy of IRB on February 24 at Khoirok Lamkhai in which 16 personnel were killed while another seven were injured, the statement said that it was case of mistaken identity.

That incident greatly disturbed the conscience of the KYKL and it was because of this, that no statement was issued earlier, said the statement and added that necessary instructions have been issued to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.

Till date the KYKL has not targeted the State forces other than some specific targets, said the statement and added that after the North AOC incident, it may review is policy against not striking out at the State forces.

Issuing a stern warning, KYKL asked the officers of the State police not to eliminate any militant who has been overpowered.

Killing after capturing militants cannot be the answer to the armed movement and no one knows this better than the State Government or the Centre, it said.

The KYKL will never forgive any police man if they kill any militant after over powering them, it further warned.