Imphal, February 23, 2010: A former leader of Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup-Military Defence Force (KYKL-MDF) was shot dead today around 10.10 am by some miscreants near the North East Institute of Science and Technology under the jurisdiction of Lamphel Police Station in Imphal West district.

The deceased has been identified as Thokchom Pharista @ Uttam (30), of Ningthoukhong Ward No.11 in Bishnupur district.

He had surrendered with five other former insurgents along with arms and ammunitions to 57 Mtn Divn in Churachandpur district on October 27 last year.

They were put up at 27 AR post at Tuibong, Churachandpur by one Major Vinod promising them that they would be allowed to join recruitment rally of Assam Rifles.

However, the Major left them.

Then they had been lodged at the government run rehabilitation centre for the surrendered insurgents located at Lamphelpat, Imphal West district since January 5 this year.

However, since four of the group of six had fled the rehabilitation centre, Uttam had been staying at the centre together with one Rocky.

He sustained bullet injury in his head.

He was taken to RIMS hospital for treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries.

An empty case and a live round were recovered from the spot, police said.

Reports culled from the spot said that two unknown persons brought Uttam on a motorcycle in between them to that place.

They talked for a short while, and then he was shot in the back of his head once.

Then the two persons on the motorcycle sped away.

On receiving information of the incident, a team of police rushed to the spot and immediately evacuated injured Uttam to RIMS hospital.

Father of the deceased, Th Ingo told media persons that the name, Uttam is not his original name.

It was a party name.

His real name was Pharista.

Yesterday, Uttam @ Pharista requested his father to make a gold chain for him on phone, his father said adding that while coming to the centre at Lamphel today, he came to know of his death.

Speaking to media persons, sister of the deceased revealed that she had talked to her brother at 8 am today and was planning to visit the rehabilitation centre for delivering her brother�s clothes which were taken for washing.

Sources at the rehabilitation centre revealed that his attendance at the centre has been recorded as present till 7am.However, his whereabouts could not be established since then, added the sources.

Meanwhile, according to a source, the deceased had gone along with one of his friends named Rocky, who is said to be still missing.

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