Imphal, January 29 2009: Atleast three persons including a woman have been shot dead while four others including a girl sustained injuries in separate incidents of gun-fight/firing attacks that occurred in different parts of the State last night.

One suspected underground activist was kiIled in a shoot out that broke out between personnel of 8 Assam Rifles and suspected armed UGs in Sajor area under Sajik Tampak block located about 30 kms south-west of Chakpikarong police station in Chandel district at around 10 pm yesterday.

At one time Sajik Tampak area was the stronghold of the of the underground outfits.

According to a statement issued by PRO Assam Rifles, in connection with the incident, based on specific information about the likely infiltration of ZPC cadres in Sajik Tampak valley from Myanmar, troops of 8 Assam Rifles of 26 Sector under IGAR (South) laid ambush on track at New Chahjol to Chahjol in the wee hours of January 29.At around 4 am, the troops noticed a person moving about suspiciously taking advantage of darkness and foliage.

On being challenged, the individual fired at the troops and started fleeing towards Myanmar.

The troops chased the militant and shot him down.

One 9 mm pistol and four live rounds of ammunition have been recovered from the slain militant and the body along with the recovered items have been handed over to Imphal PS.

The body has been kept at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital for identification and the police have registered a case in this connection.

Police sources informed that the man is about 5 feet 2 inches tall with wheatish complexion sporting short cropped black hair.

There is a tattoo on the left shoulder of the UG suspect who was found clad in blue colour track suit pant, violet colour track suit shirt and a pair of hunting boots.

In the second incident, one young woman was killed while three other persons including a 3-year old girl sustained injuries when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a public meeting held at the community hall of Tollen village in Churachandpur district at around 11 pm yesterday.

According to police report, the gunmen opened fire after the villagers tried to stop from them from abducting the younger brother of the village chief.

All the victims, the deceased as well as the injured persons are residents of the same village.

The deceased young woman has been identified as Lhainumoy Moite d/o Lhanminthang Khongsai.

She died on the spot.

The 3-year old girl who sustained bullet injuries on her left calf has been identified as Lamhuoithem Khongsai d/o Ginminthang.

The identity of the other two injured victims have also been established as Thangkhosei alias Seipu (20) s/o Haothang and Lenlal (28) s/o late Ginkhai.

Thangkhosei was hit by a bullet on his buttock while Lenlal on his left hand.

In the third incident, a 29-year old youth was found shot dead by unidentified armed persons at a paddy field located in between Keibi Kumuda and Taretkhul under Lamlai PS in Imphal East district.

The victim has been identified as Khailun (29) s/o late Henkhotong of Chalouphai (Sadar Hills) under Saikul Police Station but staying at Tuibong in Churachandpur district.

Informations culled from the site of the incident said that Khailun was a cadre of the armed outfit KLO/KNO and Khailun had been picked up by some armed persons who identified themselves as members of a proscribed outfit while he was going along with two other friends towards Channung village located in front of Keibi Kumaj last night.

The two friends were, however, led off afterward.

Along with one of his friends identified as Thangneo Haokip, Khailun had reportedly come to Imphal from Churachandpur in a bus in the morning yesterday.

However, as there is no bus service between Imphal and Channung, they came till Sawombung in an auto-rickshaw.

There, they met another friend identified as Johnson who was coming on a motor bike and all three of them proceeded to Chanung in the motor bike.

Along the way, they were intercepted by the armed persons and after detaining Khailun, the other two friends were led off towards Chanung at around 4.30 pm.

The unidentified armed persons have also allegedly taken Rs 1000 in cash, one digital camera and one mobile phone from the possession of Johnson.

When the news of the abduction spread after the two friends reached Channung, the people of village started searching for Khailun last night itself.

The search continued in the morning today as well.

But his bullet ridden was recovered in the afternoon.

The villagers have retrieved the body and brought it to the village in a bamboo stretcher.

Lamlai Police have gone to the site where the body was found to investigate and the matter reported to Saikul police.

Meanwhile, KSO Iril Valley, Saikul Branch has strongly condemned the killing.

It is said that two more persons from Khamenlok have been killed at the same site in 2008 while in 2002, a resident of Khupibung was abandoned after being shot dead.

On the other hand, after 24 hours of being held captive, Kakyenpaibam Chinglemba (22) s/o Bobo of Sairem Khul who work as a cook in Imphal West Police Control and had been reportedly abducted by unidentified gunmen from a venue of Thangbalchongba programme at Atom Khuman on the night of January 27 was found shot at on his chest near a brick field of his village last night.

Chinglemba has been admitted to Shija Hospital and Research Institute at Langol.

It may be noted here that 22-year old Leishangthem Jiten s/o Tomba of Koutruk but staying at Sairem Khul, who had on gone on the trail of Chinglemba was also found shot at on his chest by the unidentified gunmen at Tairenpokpi yesterday morning.

He too is being treated at Shija Hospital.

On the same night of the abduction Jiten at gone along with an elder brother of Chinglemba identified as Loyangamba in his two-wheeler in search of Chinglemba.

But they were intercepted by the armed persons and after detaining Jiten, Loyangamba was set free.

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