Killing spree continues, 10 shot dead
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 15 2009: Six suspected cadres of the proscribed KYKL have been slain in an encounter with a combined team of security forces at a hillock located between Koutruk and Haraothel at the junction of Imphal West and Senapati districts today.

A statement issued by SSP Imphal West L Kailun said that the encounter with suspected KYKL cadres ensued when a combined team of Imphal West commandos, troops of 39 AR and 12 MLI, acting on specific information about movement of UG cadres in Koutruk hill, conducted search operation starting from 3 am.

The combined force cordoned off the area from three directions and launched the operation.

Securitymen check arms recovered from six persons suspected to be KYKL cadres after the Koutruk-Haraothel shoot-out.

On approaching a hide-out of the UG cadres, the security personnel were fired upon with sophisticated weapons who retaliated immediately.

The shoot-out lasted for about 25 minutes.

Later the gun-fight ceased, the security personnel moved in and made an extensive search of the area.

In the process, six individuals were found shot dead.

Five AK-56 rifles, five magazines, 77 live rounds, one pistol with three live rounds and two Chinese hand grenades were recovered from the spot where the corpse were found.

Five woollen blankets, other clothing materials, one bottle of rum (Contessa) and Wills Navy Cut cigarettes were also recovered from the area, mentioned the SSP's press release.

According to information received by press, the combined force launched the search operation from midnight.

At about 2 pm, the combined force surrounded the hideouts suspected to be occupied by UG cadres.

The gun-fight broke out at about 6 am.

Lamsang police have retrieved the six corpses and deposited them at RIMS mortuary.

The slain individuals might be Leishangthem Simon (19) s/o Budha of Koutruk Ching Leikai, Angom Priyojit alias Ngongo (17) s/o Subhash of Phayeng Awang Leikai, Angom Guni (24) s/o Langbaljao of Phayeng Ching, Angom Amuthi (21) s/o Nilamani of Phayeng Ching Khunou, Keisam Sanatomba (31) s/o late Tomba of Lamshang Heibongpokpi and Mayengbam Chaothoi (23) s/o Narahari of Lamjao Part II, Tezpur Awang Leikai.

Further, two suspected UG cadres have been slain in a reported encounter with a combined team of Imphal West commandos and troops of 12 Maratha Light Infantry at Mayang Imphal Konchak Pat at about 4.25 pm today.

According to a press release issued by SSP Imphal West L Kailun, the encounter ensued when the security personnel on normal patrolling duty, were fired upon heavily by unknown armed cadres on reaching the area.

The two UG suspects were killed in retaliatory fire.

One AK 56 rifle, ten live rounds, six empty cases and two Chinese hand grenades were recovered from the two slain individuals.

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

In the meantime, two youths were found shot dead by unidentified gun men at Chiru agricultural field behind Khurkhul, not far away from the scene of the gun fight with suspected KYKL cadres.

A team of media persons saw the two corpses on the tract leading to Chirang at about 7.20 pm.

The media team acting on some reliable information was making an extensive search in Koutruk, Chirang and Khurkhul areas before they came across the corpses.

The two corpses have not been retrieved yet.

According to the villagers of Khurkhul, the two persons might have been shot dead last night.

Some villagers who went to fields this morning came across the corpses.

But it proved a great struggle when media team went in search of the corpses.

The individuals had their hands tied behind and bore fatal bullet marks on the heads, One of them was wearing grey quarter pants, white-checked shirts and slippers.

The other was wearing grey long pants, white jogging shirt inside a black shirt.

He was also wearing slippers.

Although the identity and motive of the killers could not be ascertained yet, it is suspected that the slain individuals might be involved in the abduction of Roshan, son of CAU Dean Dr N Iboton.

On the other hand, corpse of a man who bore non-local appearance was discovered in Keibul Lamjao National Park today.

The decomposed corpse was discovered by a search comprising of Bishnupur District police and around 30 villagers of Khordak at about 4.30 pm today from a marshy spot not far where the corpses of five non-local people were found a few days back.

The corpse has been deposited at RIMS mortuary.

The slain individual had short hair and wear faded jean pants and shirts.

Out of nine non-local persons suspected to have been shot dead by unidentified gun men inside Keibul Lamjao park, corpses of five have been already found while three others could not be located till date.

Counting the corpse found today, two corpses are yet to be located.

Earlier during the Operation Summer Storm, army claimed that 12 PREPAK cadres were slain but only 10 corpses were found.

Victim succumbs :A 48-year old man who was admitted to the Shija Hospital after being shot at by unidentified armed persons at Yourabung in Imphal East District on the night of April 17 last succumbed to the injuries today.

The victim has been identified as Oinam Amuthoi Singh (48) of Leimapokpam Awang Leikai under Nambol Police Station of Bishnupur.

He was wounded when unidentified armed persons opened fire inside a makeshift shed near Itam River of Yourabung where he was staying in connection with construction of a drain at around 7.30 pm of April 17 .

He was the head mistry of the work and was staying along with around 10 other labourers when the incident took place.

A bullet that was hit Amuthoi on his chest had affected not only his heart and liver but also the backbone.

Amuthoi breathed his last at Shija Hospital where he had been underground treatment at around 7 am today.

The body has been handed over to his family members after post-mortem at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital today.

Along with registering a case, Lamlai Police Station has been investigating into the incident.

But there is no report of any arrest made in connection with the incident.