Imphal, October 16: Three suspected PLA activists claimed as killed in an encounter with personnel of 19 Grehwal Rifles yesterday near Kadangband have reportedly been picked up from a house and later gunned down.

The three deceased have been identified as Samadram Ajit alias Gaithoi (22) of Kakyai Mamang Leikai, Khumanthem Sova alias guliver (25) of Bamdiar and Irungbam Kora alias Manihar (30) of Loitang Khullen Mamang Leikai.

According to press source they were picked up yesterday morning at around 5.30 by the army personnel from a Tairenpokpi house along with one Ningthoujam Khaba alias Piktru (21) of Phayeng.

Accompanied by a fluent Manipuri speaking tribal man the GR troopers also extracted signature of a woman of the house in a blank paper, informed the source who also denied recovery of any arms from the arrested persons.

According to Ajit's family he left home seven years back to join PLA and has been arrested by State commando on an earlier occasion.

While Kh Sova is reported to be a corporal of the outfit and has been arrested three times, I Kora, who joined PLA some ten years back, has never been arrested so far.

He was a sergeant of the underground organisation.

Post mortem of all three have been completed today at RIMS morgue and handed over to respective family members.

police have also confirmed the GR personnel of depositing an AK 56 rifles with five rounds, six empty cases, a 9 mm Chinese pistol with two rounds, one empty case, a Kenwood set, two detonator, fuse wire and explosive materials weighing 200 grams claimed to have been recovered from the three deceased.

Meanwhile, strongly refuting the GR encounter story Singda Kadangband Nisha Band Association and Kangchup Area Hill and Valley United Club Organisation said the deceased persons were brought at a spot in between Kadangband and Singda by security force and shot dead in cold blood.

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