8 killed in stepped up SF offensive
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 23 2008: In stepped up offensive following the October 21 evening bomb blast at Ragailong which has so far claimed 17 lives and wounded scores of others, security forces scalped eight militants in three separate incidents at different places today.

Five suspected cadres of the KCP MC (Lamyanba Khuman) and PULF (Qazi Umar) were killed in a fierce gun fight with a combined team of 39 Assam Rifles based at Mantripukhri and Imphal East police commandos at Heibimakhong at the foothills of Heingang Marjing under Heingang police station today at about 6.15 pm.

Police source said that the combined troops proceeded to the spot on receiving inputs that the KCP (MC) and PULF were planning to hold a meeting there.

The arms and ammunition seized after the Heingang gun fight which killed five UGs

The gun fight ensued for about 20 minutes, said police and added that five were killed on the spot.

Of the five killed, three appears to be Meiteis while the other two appears to be Muslims.

One driving license recovered from one of the two suspected Muslim cadres carried the name of Md Dahiya Khan of Thoubal.

Apart from a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, the security forces recovered two demand letters under the signature of Lamyanba Khuman.

One demand letter addressed to CAU and carrying the signature of Lamyanba Khuman and Chingshanglakpa demanded Rs 5 lakhs while another demand note of Rs 1 lakh was addressed to ABC godown and signed by Lamyanba Khuman.

The team also recovered some documents listing the money received by PULF as well as names of doctors who should contact them.

The arms and ammunition recovered included 2 M-16 rifles, one with 12 rounds and another with 15 rounds, one 9 mm pistol with five bullets, one carbine with three bullets, one single barrel gun, one Chinese hand grenade, one lethod bomb, battery chargers, nine detonators, two kgs of RDX.

Two more militants were killed at Maharabi located about 2 kms south of Sekmai police by a combined team of 39 AR and Imphal West police today at about 6.45 pm.

One 9 mm pistol along with two bullets and one Chinese hand grenade were recovered from them, said police.

The identities of the seven slain militants are yet to be established.

Earlier in the day another suspected cadre of the armed group KCP (MC) was gunned down by Imphal West commandos at Nongpok Sanjenbam under Lamlai police station at about 2.30 pm today.

Acting on specific information about presence of UG cadres in Gouranagar area of Nongmaiching Hills, a commando team rushed towards Gouranagar from Nongpok Sanjenbam.

On the way, the team saw a youth moving in a suspicious manner.

When asked to halt, he ran towards the paddy field.

The security personnel gave chase and shot him dead when they saw the youth attempting to throw a bomb, informed a police source.

When media persons reached the spot, one Chinese made hand grenade was found beside the corpse of the youth which lay in the Shinglou paddy field by the side of the road leading to Gouranagar.

One fatal bullet wound was observed on the head of the slainyouth who was well built and fair in complexion.

He was found wearing a black T-shirt, grey half-pants and a brown belt.

Police have picked up the corpse and deposited at RIMS mortuary.

On the other hand, a bullet riddled body of a man was found at Sekmaijin Konuma under Kakching police station this morning.

According to police sources, the deceased with medium complexion bore bullet marks on the head.

He was found wearing grey shirt and blue jean pants.

He had his ears pierced.

Police have picked up the corpse.

Local people said that gun shots were heard in the locality at about 8 last night.