Imphal, March 05, 2010: At least five persons including four suspected underground activists and a civilian were killed during the five day-long Yaoshang festival while a civilian and a security personnel were injured in an encounter between suspected PLA cadres and security forces in an interior area of Thoubal district bordering Chandel and Ukhrul districts during the same period.

In motor vehicle accidents and fights that occurred during the Yaoshang festival, lives of at least six people had been claimed while more than 30 persons, mostly youths were left injured.

On the morning of the first day of Yaoshang (February 28), police retrieved a bullet-riddled dead body of a youth from Ingourok village under Yairipok police station of Thoubal district.

He was later identified as AS Thungam (35), son of Phulung of Kharal village of Ukhrul district.

On March 1, a youth identified as Chingakham Jugeshwor @ Inao (27), son of Kulla of Andro Khuman Tampak was found hacked to death in the neck by some unknown persons at Andro Salang Tampak on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.

Suspected cadres of People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Tuesday (March 2) laid multiple ambushes on security forces entering Tolen village in interior Chandel district, injuring a civilian and a security personnel.

On the same day, a combined team of Assam Rifles and Manipur Police Commandos killed a suspected PREPAK cadre in a separate alleged encounter.

Security Force personnel retaliated in the ambushes resulting in heavy exchange of fire at as many as 10 places in the border areas of the three districts of Chandel, Thoubal and Ukhrul from early hours of Tuesday.

A civilian sustained injury from a splinter when a bomb allegedly hurled by the AR troops in retaliation exploded inside a house in the village.

Police commandos evacuated the injured villager identified as S Augustin (37), son of Ngamsang of Meriland village at a hospital in Imphal.

The first ambush took place at about 5 am in the general area of Tolen village.

In the ambushes, one security personnel was reportedly injured as security forces continued operations to flush out the rebels at Tolen, Meriland and neighbouring villages of Chandel district but within the operational area of Thoubal district police.

Later, it extended upto Lungthar area of Ukhrul district in the border with Chandel and Thoubal districts with the Assam Rifles reinforced by the 21 Para-troopers and Thoubal police commandos.

On the same day, a suspected PREPAK cadre was killed by a combined force of troops of 21 Assam Rifles and Thoubal police commandos at Hiyanglam Hiranmei village of Kakching police station in Thoubal district, at about 8.20 am.

The identity of the slain suspected PREPAK cadre was later on the next identified as Huidrom Bidhur (30) son of Sekmai Mayai Leikai.

Family admitted that he was a cadre of the PREPAK outfit.

Security force recovered a 9 mm pistol loading with four live rounds, two hand grenades (one Chinese made Hand Grenade and Indian made Hand Grenade), three empty cases of 9 mm, 12 empty cases of AK rifle and one flag of the PREPAK outfit along with some incriminating documents from the spot where the encounter took place, police said.

On March 4 morning, police recovered three bullets riddled dead bodies suspected to belong to KYKL-MDF from the uphill of Chanoulok hill under Yairipok police station, official said.

They were seem to be killed by shooting at the heads by their rivals while sleeping some days back as all the dead bodies were found on the mattresses in sleeping position with cloths and started decomposing.

Identity of one of the dead bodies was established today as Thongram Tomba alias Maipak (30) son of Th Ragumani of Ingourok Mamang Leikai.

He was among the KYKL (MDF) cadres who surrendered to the Assam Rifles last year along with Thounaojam Utam alias Farista, surrendered KYKL-MDF was shot dead by KYKL cadres on February 23.He left home 11 year back to join KYKL who included among the deserters of the outfit who formed KYKL-MD.He was at home till the first day of Yaoshang, family said.

Identities of the two others are yet to establish.

However, one of them is believed to be one Moirangthem Borjao (35) while the other a resident of Yaingangpokpi village of Lamlai police station.

Comment