Imphal, October 28: A 25-year old youth was killed by personnel of 4 Assam Rifles at Laipham Khunou late last night amid contradictory claims.

The slain youth has been identified as Pukhrambam Suranjoy alias Sanjoy (25) s/o (late) Pukhrambam Rajen Singh of Laipham Khunou Mamang Leikai.

Though the family members claimed that Suranjoy was innocent and had been killed by the personnel of 4 Assam Rifles stationed at Mantripukhri after picking him up from home last night, a PIB Defence Wing statement contended that Suranjoy was a suspected cadre of KCP and was gunned down by a combined team of 4 Assam Rifles and Heingang Police.

In a statement, the PRO further claimed that one 9 mm pistol, one magazine and three live rounds of ammunition have also been recovered from the possession of the slain cadre whose body was later handed over to Heingang Police Station.

Contradicting the claim of the PIB Defence Wing statement, the bereaved family members and the local people informed that Suranjoy was picked up from his home by the personnel of Assam Rifles stationed at Mantripukhri.

They informed that the AR team had come looking for Suranjoy at around 10 pm last night.

A younger brother of Suranjoy identified as Bipin replied that his brother was not at home.

As the AR personnel threatened Bipin, he went all round the locality searching for his brother with the AR personnel following him.

At last Suranjoy was found watching television at the house of one of his uncle.

Suranjoy was taken away by the AR personnel from there itself and asked Bipin to go home.

Not long after, they heard sound of gun shots and later on when the family members and the local people went out to search for him, they found the lifeless body of Suranjoy some 500 metres away on the western side of the gate of their house.

The family members further informed that Suranjoy had been earlier arrested by the Assam Rifles personnel on alleged charge of being a KCP member one year back.

Heingang police have registered a case and the body deposited at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital.

Crying foul over the killing, a large number of local Meira Paibis and residents today came out to protest and blocked the National Highway-39 at Shangakpham area for some time.

Later a public meeting was held at Laipham Khunou Community hall during which a Joint Action Committee (JAC), christened as JAC Against the brutally killing of Pukhrambam Suranjoy alias Sanjoy was formed.

The meeting has also resolved not to take back the body and continue with the agitation till the matter has been resolved.

A memorandum has also been reportedly submitted to the Chief Minister by the JAC demanding action against the guilty AR personnel and giving compensation to the bereaved family among other demands.

Comment