Imphal, February 20: Officer-in-charge of Thoubal district police commando Inspector N Lokhon and with three police personnel were killed in a daring attack at Thoubal bazar this afternoon. The attacker suspected to be an underground activist has also been killed in retaliatory firing.

Claiming responsibility for gunning down the Thoubal commando OC, the proscribed Revolutionary People's Front contended that the attack was launched due to Lokhon 's indulgence in committing atrocities against innocent civilians, grabbing the victims' properties, immoral activities and eliminating innocent persons.

A statement issued by the outfit's assistant chief of department of communication and publicity clarified that the attack is not connected to avenge killing of RPF cadres and expressed sorrow at the loss of lives of some other security personnel.

Identifying the slain attacker as sergeant Bikash and informing that he (Bikash) committed suicide rather than fall into the hands of the police, the RPF statement described the sergeant's action as a faalout of Lokhon disregarding chastity of Manipuri womenfolk.

It further claimed of confiscating an AK-47 rifle from the attack.

According to press source, the incident occurred at around 3.20 pm when a team of Thoubal police commando under Inspector N Lokhon were deployed near Thoubal Bazar Thongkhong (bridge) for normal frisking duty.

The richly decorated police officer who had been at the centre of containing insurgency movement in the State is informed to have been seated at the police Gypsy parked near the commando frisking site when some unidentified armed persons closed in and opened fire from close range.

Lokhon and two commando personnel who were also nearby died on the spot while the driver and three others sustained bullet wounds of varying degree.

While an assailant was slain in retaliatory firing one out of the three wounded personnel succumbed to injuries at JN Hospital later in the evening, maintained the source.

Another source detailing the attack listed the assailants as two with one hurling a hand-grenade and the other firing indiscriminately before escaping in a Pulsar motor cycle with another accomplice.

The vehicle driver despite being injured is informed to have grappled with the first attacker.

The motorcycle (MN01/9905) had been recovered from Uchiwa.

Besides Ningthoujam Lokhon (48) of Yumnam Khunou, the other commando personnel who died instantly are said to be 3rd IRB riflemen Md Muzibur of Yairipok and Md Nur Ahmad of Thoubal Moijing while identity of the personnel who passed away at the hospital at around 4 pm has been established as Mongjam Laldayal (25) of Nambol Laitonjam Khori Leikai.

Laldayal suffered bullet wounds on the head and chest areas.

Of the injured, two admitted at RIMS Hospital are named Md Habi (26) of Sangaiyumpham Part-III Cherapur and the driver constable L chaoba.

The source informing recovery of a 9 mm pistol and a hand-grenade from the suspected UG activist killed in retaliation also speculated that the assailants might have arrived at the attack site on motorcycle.

As security reinforcement arrived and a massive man-hunt was launched a separate team headed towards Uchiwa under Mayang Imphal police station on being informed that the suspected assailants had sped in that direction.

A brief encounter also ensued near Uchiwa between the trailing police team and unidentified armed persons.

There is, however, no report of casualty on either side.

Director General of Police AK Parashar was among the first top rung police officer of the state to reach RIMS to inquire conditions of the injured personnel.

Bodies of the slain security personnel including Lokhon have been brought to RIMS morgue in late evening.