Imphal, Jun 23: In separate encounters with security force personnel three persons, suspected to be armed activists, have been slain while the body of a man with multiple bullet wounds has been retrieved by Moirang police personnel from near a canal in Gelmual kuki village today.

of the two gun-fights one took place at around 9 am near Lilong Chingkham Makha Leikai and involved personnel of thoubal district police and commandos who rushed to the said spot under its SP to conduct search operations based on specific report.

As the search commenced a brief but fierce gun-fight ensued between the security force team and suspected PULF activists resulting in two casualties on the militant side, said informed source.

One of the two deceased has been identified as Md Nazamuddin (18) s/o Md Samsuruddin of Lilong Chingkham Makha Leikai.

Providing a detailed account of the clash, the source contended that the security team closed in on the residence of Md Nazamuddin at around 9 am from where four armed youths rushed out and sprayed bullets from automatic weapons.

As one of the attackers fled towards a house on the northern end of initial encounter site, the security forces chased and killed a youth from whom an AK-57 rifle with a magazine had been recovered.

in subsequent gun-fight Nazamuddin was also gunned down near a local pond also resulting in the recovery of another AK-57 rifle with a magazine and some live rounds.

Even though two others managed to escape, the source quoted local residents as witnessing one of the two escapees injured on the leg before fleeing the scene on a scooter parked across a river.

IGP (LO-II) A Romenkumar and DIGP (R-I) S Dinokumar also reached the encounter site to assess the situation.

In the Churachandpur district clash personnel of 2 Assam Rifles gunned down a suspected ZRA activist.

The slain militant is suspected to be one Paominlun (20) of Molnom village in Thanlon sub-division from whom an AK-47 rifle, a magazine with 13 rounds have also been recovered.

The youth is said to have been slain in an encounter with the AR at Lailamveng village, located about 2 kms south of Churachandpur district police station at around half past mid-night today.

After post mortem at the district hospital this afternoon the body has been handed over to family members.

On the other hand, according to police source, some farmers came across a body near the Gelmual village High Dam while walking to their fields in the early morning hours and subsequently conveyed the discovery to the village chief and the latter contacted Moirang police station.

The spot where the body was found is located about eight kilometres west of Moirang PS.

The victim with bullet wounds in the neck and left arm area has been deposited at RIMS morgue for necessary procedures.

Police sources quoted Gelmual villagers as saying that no sound of gunfire was heard last night but speculated that the victim might be a Keibul resident.

detailing that the victim person is well built, tall and fair complexioned and clad in red banian, deep-green coloured shorts and slipper, and sporting beard and moustache, the source also assumed the body to be around 36 years of age.

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