Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 02 2010:
Two suspected underground cadres have been reportedly gunned down in a shoot-out with Imphal East district police commandos at a Baruni (Nongmaiching) hill slope near Kalika village today.
Speaking to newspersons after the encounter, the district's Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations) Moirangthem Rajen said based on specific information regarding presence of unidentified armed persons four teams of the district police commando moved in towards the direction of Kalika village.
As the commando teams approached the said village at about 1.45 pm an individual seen moving suspiciously near a hill-slope tasar plantation site was asked to identify, who instead opened fire resulting in a shoot-out for nearly half an hour as other accomplices of the unidentified person also rained bullets from other directions, the police officer said.
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With the police commandos also taking positions and promptly retaliating two of the attackers were soon slain along with recovery of two AK-56 rifles and six magazines containing 180 rounds.
Further search of the plantation area led to the detection of a kutcha hut with thatched roof from where one M-16 rifle with two magazines and 80 rounds, one lathode gun and 20 bombs, and a Chinese hand-grenade were recovered, the ASP elaborated. Referring to recovery of tooth-paste and tooth brushes along with one pouch each of M-16 and lathode guns, Rajen expressed that the hut might have been used as temporary hideouts by the UG suspects.
Upon surveying the encounter area, the bodies were found lying at about 30 feet from one another with one of the slain attired in a blue colour trousers and olive coloured T-shirt.
The other victim was found wearing smoke-grey pants and a black T-shirt.
A team of Irilbung police station later arrived at the spot and retrieved the bodies for deposition at RIMS morgue.
Meanwhile, identity of the second victim gunned down by personnel of Thoubal district police commandos on January 31 at Langmeithek village has been established today at RIMS morgue as Chongtham Boinao alias Tolhan (17) s/o Ch Ranjit of Wangjing Wangkhei.
Boinao reportedly left home about two years back and most recently showed up at home on January 28 and stayed for two days.
After identification the body was taken to Lilong PHC for post mortem before being handed over to family members.
The other person slain with Boinao, had already been identified as one RK Dinachandra (19) of Shamushang.
UG cadre held: One KYKL cadre identified as Naocha Meitei alias Ajahta (18) s/o N Sarat of Korshantabi, Thoubal district was apprehended by troops of 21 AR from his locality at about 8 pm of February 1, said an AR PRO release.
Naocha has been handed over to Kakching police station, it added.