Pradhan captors slain, claims Bishnupur SP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 08 2010: Two activists of the proscribed KCP-MC (Lamyanba Khuman group) reportedly involved in the abduction of a Pradhan have been slain following a shootout with a combined security team in a Bishnupur district area last night.

Bishnupur district's Superintendent of Police K Jayenta Singh told reporters at the district police headquarters this afternoon that based on intelligence input regarding movement of armed cadres of the KCP group, a joint team of Bishnupur district police commandos and troops of 15 Maratha Light Infantry launched search operation late last night.

Specifying Tera Khongsangbi, Uyungmakhong and Gelmol as well as nearby villages as the places where security teams were deployed during the search operation, Jayenta said at about 11.20 pm yesterday the security forces came under fire while approaching along the Tronglaobi-Gelmol inter village road.

Pistols and demand notes recovered from the slain KCP cadres

Even though the security personnel were initially pinned down due to firing from the paddy-field, the attack was retaliated resulting in an encounter for about 10 minutes. After the gun-fight ceased search of the nearby paddy field led to the recovery of two armed persons, whom the SP described as cadres of the KCP-MC (Lamyanba Khuman group) involved in the recent abduction of Tera Khongsangbi Gram Panchayat's Pradhan.

The Pradhan namely Lamabam Tomchou Meitei (52) was taken captive by the KCP group from his Tera khongsangbi residence on january 3 but managed to escape from the captors' clutches two days later and reported himself to Churachandpur police station.

Apart from abduction of the pradhan, the slain KCP-MC (Lamyanba Khuman) cadres were also involved in extortion activities and bomb attacks in Bishnupur district areas, the SP maintained.

Regarding the encounter, he conceded that other accomplices of the slain duo managed to escape taking advantage of darkness and that search of the deceased persons led to the recovery of two 9 mm pistols, and six extortion notes signed by one Taibangnganba of the outfit.

After registration of a case on the matter and preliminary investigation conducted by Moirang police station officials identity of slain persons could be established as Laishram Bonny alias Borish alias tomba (25) s/o L Ishokanta of Phubala Awang Leikai and Hemam Manglem alias Mangkhulen (21) s/o H Ranjit, a hut dweller of Phubala.

Both Bonny, a former PREPAK cadre, and Manglem were directly involved in the abduction of the pradhan, the SP reiterated besides pointing out that reports have been received of significant presence of the KCP group's cadres in Bishnupur district whose main activities centre around extortion of money.

He, however, confided that through strong support and cooperation of the people security forces have been successfully foiling nefarious activities of the armed outfit.

K Jayenta also mentioned elimination of three KCP-MC (Lamyanba Khuman) cadres involved in the killing of a driver of LDA EE (Ibopishak) and subsequent recovery of a shot-gun, slaying of cadre of the outfit involved in the assassination of a top functionary of SoO signatory Kuki group and killing of a cadre involved in inflicting injury to a Moirang cinema hall owner as some of the recent achievement of the district police.

Moreover a number of cadres of the said outfit, including its female activities, involved in anti-national activities have been apprehended, he added.

The SP further appealed to the people for continuous support and cooperation to enable the security force restore peace and tranquillity in the State.