Imphal, March 11: Nine persons, including a civilian have been reportedly killed in different violent incidents at Chandel, Imphal East and Churachandpur districts today.

according to reports, four members of the proscribed PLA have been slain in an encounter with a combined team of Leimakhong based 21 Field Para Regiment and 18 Assam rifles at Khoibu Khullen village in Chandel district, two slain at Minuthong Hatta in retaliatory firing by Imphal East district commandos while at churachandpur unidentified persons gunned down two suspected members of underground outfits.

Among the deceased in the encounter at Khoibu Khullen about 30 kilometres north east of Tengnoupal police station include a woman named Moikham Singlei (30) w/o Ningchu Singlei of Lairam Khullen.

The unfortunate couple's two year old son also suffered injuries on the left wrist and is being treated in the 12 AR post hospital at Tengnoupal.

According to reliable sources the encounter ensued at around 9 am and lasted for about two hours.

the Army troops have been camping at the village since about five days back on getting information of the UG cadres movement in the area, it said.

The Ugs likely to number about 20 had apparently moved into the vicinity of today's encounter site last night.

Corpses of the slain UGs along with many warstores like haversack have been retrieved and brought in a Shaktiman truck escorted by five security vehicles and kept at the Tengnoupal post of 18 AR.

The security forces also recovered a Light Machine Gun (LMG) and three AK series rifles, the source said.

On the otherhand, police claimed to have gunned down two extortionists after a brief encounter at the Minuthong Hatta residence of one md Hannan (47) of Hafiz Hatta at around 9.30 am today.

A press statement issued by the Imphal East SP L Kailun on the incident maintained that the district's police commandos under the command of OC M Mubi cordoned off Hatta Golapati area on receipt of credible information about presence of some armed militants.

The commandos came under attack at the entrance gate of Hannan with the militants hurling a hand grenade which however, exploded at the side of the said house.

After about 4-5 minutes of retaliatory firing two persons were found dead, the statement said and disclosed of recovering one revolver, a PULF demand note addressed to secretary, Loha Association, Hatta Golapati for an amount of Rs 5 lakhs and a chit having mobile phone Nos 9436069947, 9856156085 etc.

During preliminary inquiry from the localities it came to light that both the deceased belong to PULF organisation and one of them is the main finance collector for the outfit in Hatta Golapati area and disguised himself as a rickshaw puller, claimed the SP.

Meanwhile, of the two deceased, identity of one has been established as Md Ishan (30) from Phundrei village of Thoubal district and is informed to be staying at a rented quarter at Hatta Golapati along with his pregnant wife of 4/5 months and two other children.

Ishan is said to be a rickshaw driver employed by one Md Khalique of golapati.

The wife stated that she was getting ready to leave for their Phundrei home and stay there during the yaoshang (holi) festival when she heard her husband's death.

While the rickshaw owner Khalique asserted that he never believed Ishan to be connected to any underground organisation the wife expressing similar viewpoints is said to have returned from RIMS morgue refusing to claim her husband's body.

according to Hannan, the encounter took place at the ground floor corridor of his two storeyed building wherein the family resides on the upper floor and the ground floor are rented quarters.

Contradicting the police version, Hannan's neighbours revealed of the police commandos at around 9.30 am asking all the adjacent residents to stay indoors which the people duly obliged.

About 10 minutes later a loud blast could be heard from Hannan's residential premise followed by a burst of about 10 shots, reported the neighbours.

In Churachandpur district's Bohlui and New Lamka areas bodies of two persons suspected to be activists of ZDF and KNF (Samuel) were recovered.

Police source informing that the Bohlui shooting took place at around 2.30 am identified the victim as Helzathang Zou (50) of the same village which is located some four kilometres south of the district headquarters' police station.

The assailants attacked the 50 year old suspected ZDV activist at his own residence.

identity of the New Lamka shooting has been established as Thangjain alias Thangboi Haokip (31) s/o Kaikhothang of Chongchin village.

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