Three suspected KYKL men killed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 11 2008: Atleast three suspected underground activists of the proscribed KYKL including one believed to be the Thoubal district commander of the outfit have been shot dead by security personnel in two different encounters that took place in different parts of the State today.

In the first encounter, Assam Rifles gunned down two underground activists of KYKL including one believed to be the Thoubal District Commander of the outfit at Wangoo Mamang Sabal under Sugnu Police Station early morning today.

The guns and ammos seized after the encounter-PIB

A jawan of the Assam Rifles also reportedly sustained injuries in the incident.

The injured jawan has been evacuated to the Army Hospital at Leimakhong.

A statement issued by PIB (Defence Wing) in this connection said that based on specific information available with 73 Mtn Bde of Red Shield Division of some UG cadres visiting the village of Wangoo Mamang Sabal, a search operation was launched on the intervening night of November 10 and 11 under the aegis of 7 Assam Rifles.

While the troops were approaching the village, the scout was fired upon.

The Red Shield Division troops retaliated the firing with extreme caution to avoid any damage to locals.

A brief fire fight ensued in which two UG cadres were killed.

Search of the area resulted in recovery of one 9 mm Czech pistol and one 7.62 mm M-20 pistol with some live ammunition and fire cases.

Two persons namely Th Dhiren Chandra (21) s/o Th Neel Kamal of Wangoo Sandangkhong, Bishnupur district and O Inaomacha (34) s/o late O Kulabidhu of Mamang Sabal, Thoubal district were also apprehended by the troops, the PIB (Defence Wing) statement said, adding that the slain militants were taking shelter in the house of Inaomacha.

The bodies of the slain UGs have been handed over to Kumbi Police Station and their identities are yet to be established, the statement said, adding that one jawan Rifleman RS Negi who sustained some injuries has been evacuated to Military Hospital at Leimakhong where his condition is stable.

On the other hand, the police report listed the recovery items from the possession of the slain UGs as one 9 mm pistol loaded with one live round of ammunition, one point 20 pistol loaded with five rounds of ammunition, three bicycles and one Kinetic Honda scooter bearing registration no.MN-1Z/4857 .

The police report further said that one of the slain cadre is likely to be the Thoubal district commander of the outfit identified as Heikrujam Indrajit alias Jackson (28) s/o Ingel of Wangoo Nongyai Khongbal Nungoi Leikai.

The other slain cadre has been identified as Salam Esheihanba (28) s/o late Thoiba of Arong Khunjao Awang Leikai and the body has been taken away by his family members after post-mortem examination at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital later during the day.

The family members, however, informed that after constructing a shed at Laphupat, Esheihanba had been living as a fisherman for the last 3 years.

But he used to come down to visit his family members every now and then and the last time he visited was on Ningol Chakkouba.

While staying in the shed, KYKL activists may have probably used him for rowing the boats, the family members suspected.

The boat used by Esheihanba was found docking at Hiyangkhong of Laphupat Tera.

In the second encounter which took place at New Keithelmanbi along National Highway 53 under Patsoi Police Station of Imphal West District at around 6.30 pm today, a combined force of 32 Assam Rifles and 23 Assam Rifles shot dead a suspected KYKL activist.

According to police report, pistol and four ammunition of 7.6 mm have been recovered from the possession of the slain whose body has been picked up and deposited at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital.