Imphal, December 24: Investigation conducted by the proscribed UNLF into the December 15 Lamdeng Khunou firing incident has narrowed down to three persons as culprits responsible for the death of one Lourembam Basanta (35) s/o (L) L Nongyai of Taothong Ayungba Mamang Leikai and injury inflicted to Lourembam Sanjit (25) s/o L Ibocha of Taothong Khunou.

Disclosing the findings to reporters somewhere in Imphal East district this evening, a UNLF spokesman detailed the alleged culprits as Thoudem Premchand (38) s/o Th Ibochou of Taothong Mamang Leikai, RK Brajamani alias Bijulee (35) s/o (L) RK Amusana of Sagolband Tera Sapam Leirak and Huidrom Raju alias robert (32) s/o (L) H Gulamjat of Khabam Makha Leikai.

Meanwhile, report received by the press from police sources said that Th Premchand was found shot dead at Tera Sadokpam Leikai at around 8 pm today while Bijulee reportedly fled from the scene with bullet wound on the leg.

Contending that RK Brajamani was a PLA cadre of the outfit's 15th batch (No 876) who completed military training in October 1994 before being arrested along with cash consignment while working for the KCP, the spokesman also stated that H Raju had undergone military training as a PLA cadre.

According to the spokesman, Premchand and Brajamani became friends through a contractor identified as Sapam Gopen of Tera Sapam Leirak and had been frequenting at the residence of S Keba (Gopen's brother) an aspiring candidate for the forthcoming Assembly election.

At the behest of Premchand that some miscreants suspected to be close to both the NSCN and NNC had been firing blank shots at Taothong area, Brajamani accompanied his friend in a white coloured Maruti car to the Khabam makha Leikai residence of H Raju to procure arm.

Prior to driving towards Khabam on the same night that the incident took place, Premchand handed five rounds of 9 mm calibre to one Rabi of Uripok Yambem Leikai and returned to S Keba's residence with the 9 mm pistol (Norenco) carried by one of Raju's friend Konthoujam Boby (30) of Sayang Kurao Makhong in a Kinetic Honda.

Boby is said to be currently employed in the police department.

After dinner, Premchand, Raju and Bijulee left Keba's residence at around 10 pm and reached Taothong Mamang Leikai under Lamsang police station where the trio had a brief argument on how to confront L Basanta and his three other companions from Taothong areas allegedly working for the NSCN as well as the NNC.

While unanimity eluded the trio, a commotion was heard at a distant and they strolled out to inquire during which Basanta along with Sanjit were seen heading back home.

With Raju and Bijulee confronting Basanta and Sanjit as Premchand hid nearby an argument broke out between the foursome resulting in Raju flashing the small arm and opening fire at Sanjit.

As Basanta rushed in on hearing Sanjit's distress call, Raju trained his gun at Basanta killing him on the spot while a bleeding Sanjit cried in agony.

Assuming that Sanjit was also killed in the firing, the three assailants fled from the scene and arrived at Bijulee's residence, recounted the UNLF spokesman who confided that the investigation was conducted by its Central Special Force.

the shooting incident also coincided with an another brawl that took place near Lamsang Cinema Hall wherein brothers Sorokhaibam Johnson (24) and Inaoton (21) s/o S Rajen of Lamsang Thongkhong Maning, along with Chinganbam Boy (21) s/o Ch Bila of Lamsang Bazar and Angom Brucelee of Lamsang Thamnapokpi first thrashed Oinam Bimol (36) of Naoremthong Nganapithong and later Lourembam Thoiba (49) of Taothong Mamang Leikai posing as UG activists punctuated with trademark UNLF codes thereby leading to misconception that the UNLF was involved in both the incidents, clarified the spokesman.

Asserting that Inaoton had completed military training (PLA) in Sept-Oct, 2004, he further elaborated that owing to the twin incidents taking place within a distance of 300-400 metres Taothong public perceived that UNLF organisation had a hand in both the cases particularly with the assailants involved in the Cinema Hall attack using UNLF's name.

Regarding punishment, the spokesman announced death penalty against Th Premchand concluding that he (Premchand) had master minded the attack while Brajamani would be shot in the leg as warning to mend his conduct.

H Raju has been asked to surrender along with the small arm within five days failing which appropriate action would be initiated, declared the spokesman.

Moreover, S Inaoton had been disciplined and handed over to family members, said the spokesman asking S Johnson, Ch Boy and A Brucelee to surrender at the earliest to avoid dire consequences.

In the meantime, body of Premchand has been picked up by the police and desposited it at the mortuary of RIMS even as another source informed that UNLF handed over a mobile phone that belonged to Basanta to his family members.

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