Imphal, May 11: Amidst contradictory claims, Assam Rifles personnel shot dead a suspected cadre of the proscribed UNLF at Nongren, half a kilometre South East of Lamlai Police Station at about 3.30 am today.

The deceased has been identified as Irom Japan alias Nanao (22) s/o Irom Pakpa of Maiba Khul.

There were at least two bullet marks on his chest.

Press spokesman of the Assam Rifles, in a statement said, troops of the 9 Sector Assam Rifles killed the �militant� inflicting a major blow to extortion and other anti-social activities by militant groups.

Based on information regarding militants moving in and around Nongren village, troops of 12 Assam Rifles launched an operation to apprehend the underground activists.

The troops saw two persons moving suspiciously in the area early morning today and when the AR personnel challenged them, they were taken by surprise and started firing towards the troops while fleeing towards Torbung village, claimed the statement.

One of the militants was killed in the retaliatory firing while his companion managed to escape by taking advantage of the poor visibility and dense jungle area, the AR spokesman said, informing that one 9 mm pistol with live ammunition, one IED kit and other weaponry have been recovered from the slain militant.

The seized items and the body were later handed over to the police.

However, quite contrary to the claims of the Assam Rifles, reports received by the press said that Japan was arrested by the security personnel which included Manipuri speaking persons from Kongba Chanam Leikai area at around two in the afternoon yesterday.

The AR troop had also ransacked the house where Japan at taken shelter.

The body of the slain youth was handed over to family members after post-mortem at RIMS morgue today.

Japan is said to have left home some four years back and became an underground activist.

Youth thrashed and abandoned: A thirty two year old former member of the proscribed PLA was picked up from his Khoyathong Polem Leikai residence by suspected security personnel, severely beaten up and later abandoned at Kanglapat area, said press source.

The youth identified as Hanjabam Bobby Sharma s/o H Brajagopal sharma was hauled up from his residence at around 2.30 am today and after he was severely beaten was left near the gate entrance of the house was left in excruciating pain at Kanglapat from where local meira paibis found and admitted him at RIMS Hospital.

Bobby bore multiple injuries at the buttock, shoulder and wrist (due to tying).

Bobby was arrested on 1993 for being a PLA activist and since release in 1995 has been eking livelihood by taking up small contract works, said family sources.

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