Imphal, March 07 2009: Four top leaders of the armed People's United Liberation Front (PULF) Azad group, including its chairman Md Azad alias Abdul Kalam Azad have been killed during a pre-dawn encounter with a combined force at Irilbung in Imphal East district today.

On the other hand, the chairman of the Kazi Umar group of the armed organisation Md Tabe alias Umar Kazi has been reportedly arrested along with another female cadre at Mumbai.

According to SP (Imphal East) Th Radheshyam, the shoot-out broke out while a combined force of Imphal East Police Commandos and personnel of 28 Assam Rifles were conducting a search operation after cordoning off the area following specific information.

Addressing a press conference at the Imphal East District police Headquarters located at Porompat here this afternoon, Radheshyam said the encounter which lasted for about 30 minutes occurred at around 2.30 am today at a spot called Tekhambi Kachin located near Irilbung Forest Gate under Irilbung Police Station.

"Along with sounding an alert, we have been laying in wait in and around the area following reports on presence of PULF activists in connection with holding a meeting and other activities of the armed group," the SP said.

With confirmation of the report last night, the search operation was conducted.

CO of the 28 Assam Rifles and the SP himself jointly supervised the whole operation and the subsequent shooting encounter.

Even though the SP did not provide information on the identity of the four slain activists, information received by the press suggest they are chairman of PULF Azad faction Md Azad alias Abdul Kalam Azad (37) s/o late Abdul Jalil of Mayang Imphal Chirai, chief of the army and finance secretary Md Sahid alias Raj Khan (25) s/o late Md Bashir of Yairipok Tulihal Awang Leikai, project officer Md Azad Khan Shekhar alias Iyaaz Khan (43) s/o late Naseruddin and S/S sergeant major Md Firoz Khan (28) s/o Rausan Ali of Santhel Mamang Leikai.

Radheshyam further informed that two AK-56 Rifles, two magazines with 17 live rounds of ammunition, one lathode gun with two shells, one M-20 pistol with magazine and two rounds, two Chinese hand grenades, a knife and two torch lights were recovered from the slain persons.

The bodies of the four slain PULF activists have been taken away by their respective family members after post-mortem examination at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital later during the day today.

On the other hand, chairman of the PULF Kazi Umar faction identified as Md Tabe alias Umar Kazi alias Umardin Usman (42) s/o Yusuf Ali of Kwakta Khunou and the project officer of the outfit identified as RK Nandarani Devi (38) w/o late Jamesson alias Sanajaoba of Kakching Paji Leikai have been reportedly arrested by a combined force from Navi Mumbai on March 5 morning.

The combined force comprising Imphal East Police Commandos and personnel of 12 Maratha Light Infantry from Manipur have assisted by the Mumbai police in effecting the arrest of the both activists from their hideout at Ram Patil Chawl under Taloja Police Station of the metropolitan city.

The transit remand of both the arrested activists have been granted till March 11 and most probably they would be brought to Imphal tomorrow.

Meanwhile, exchange of heavy firing between the security forces and suspected armed UG activists reportedly took place at Yangoi Khongbal in Wangoi Police Station of Imphal West district at around 4 pm today.

According to police sources, the gun fight broke out between the Imphal West Police Commandos and the suspected armed UG cadres at a spot of the lake popularly known as Yangoi Khongbal located about 4 kms to the west of Samushang Shantipur Makha Leikai under Wangoi Police Station.

At first, the police commandos who were travelling in a bullet proof armour came under lethode bomb attack from the suspected armed UG cadres and it led to exchange of firing including guns and bombs from both sides for about half an hour.

The gun fight continued intermittently even after reinforcement of police commandos and 12 MLI personnel rushed in.

After the gun fight, the entire area was also searched but there is no report of any arrest made.

Similar gun fight between the security forces and the armed UGs also occurred at Ishok in Bishnupur district at around 4.20 pm today.

However, there is no report of any human casualty.

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