Imphal, September 29: Rejecting the police claim that its Imphal East commander Thokchom Diren alias Lalboi s/o Th Ibomcha of Wangoo Tera Khong Makhong shot dead at Langthabal on September 23 was killed in encounter, the armed group KRA (U) has contended that Diren was picked up security forces from Langol at about 10 am of the same day.

Further, a statement issued by the outfit's publicity secretary Lenin CH re-asserted that all the three individuals shot dead by police commandos at Thangjing Chiru on September 24 were its cadres working under project officer Polash.

Identifying the deceased as Thokchom Thomas alias Malemnganba s/o Th Umakanta of Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal, Leitanthem Thomson alias Tondonbi s/o L Inaocha of Kongpal Chanam Leikai and Maibam Homendro alias Momocha s/o M Lukhoi of Mahaballi, Lenin contended that Thokchom Thomas was picked up from Wangkhei.

Then Thomson and Homendro were pulled up from Paona Bazar.

Answering to the queries raised by the mother of Thomas and the All Manipur Newspaper Sales and Distributors Association, Lenin CH disclosed that Thomas was working under project officer Polash for the last one month and a half.

Since he had not completed three months in the party he was not given any army number.

Stating that Homendro and Thomson were working under Thomas in the party's project, the outfit clarified that Homendro was also not given army number as he was not a trained cadre.

Questioning whether there is any rule that no newspaper hawker should join KRA(U), the outfit maintained that the All Manipur Newspaper Sales and Distributors should not feel sore when a hawker helps the party on his own accord.

On the day of the incident, Thomson and Homendro were going to Paona Bazar to collect 16 mobile phone handsets from Imphal Mobile House and Nokia House.

But they were arrested by commandos following disclosure by Thomas who had been arrested earlier.

Alleging that the three cadres were shot dead in cold blood after picking them up from different places at Thangjing Chiru, the outfit condoled the three slain cadres.