Imphal, March 20: Director General of Police, Government of Manipur Y Joykumar has claimed that the proscribed outfit Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) is behind the recent killing of 15 non-local migrant workers in different parts of the State.

Making this claim during a press conference at the conference room of SP of Imphal West here this afternoon, the police officer disclosed that following a tip off from a highly reliable source about the presence of armed persons who were directly involved in the killing of seven migrant workers at Heiyel Hangoon under Mayang Imphal Police Station on March 17 in and around Mayang Imphal IB Road, Charoibung and Upokpi area, a combined force of Bishnupur District Police Commandos and Imphal West District Police Commandos rushed in to these areas at around 9.30 pm yesterday.

As the combined force approached the western side of Charoibung Heibong Makhong, they came under heavy firing from unknown armed militants.

The Commandos also retaliated the firing.

The exchange of firing from both sides lasted for about 10 to 15 minutes after which the militants appeared to have fled the scene.

After the firing ceased, the area was searched and the commando team recovered two unknown male bodies lying along the inter-village road of Charoibung.

One AK Rifle loaded with magazine having 9 live rounds and one pistol loaded with four live rounds of ammunition were also found lying near the dead bodies.

Both the bodies have been picked up and brought to the RIMS Morgue, the DGP informed.

In the follow up action based on another tip off from the same source, the DGP further disclosed, the Maruti Van bearing registration no.MN01W-0046 grey in colour belonging to one Waikhom Lokendro alias Kocha (30) s/o W Mangi Singh of Wabagai Keithel Macha were also picked up today in the morning on suspicion of being used the vehicle by the militants in bringing the seven migrant workers to Heiyel Hangoon of Mayang Imphal on that fateful day.

During the course of interrogation, Lokendro revealed that on March 17 at around 3.30 pm, two unknown armed youths came on a motorcycle to his house and forced him to accompany them with his van.

One of the unknown youths got into his van and forced him to drive to Wabagai Terapishak.

The seven migrant workers with their hands tied from behind were brought out by two person identified as Sarangthem Sanjoy alias Robert s/o S Biramani Singh of Wabagai Keithel Macha and Elangbam Dutta s/o late E Modhusudon of Wabagai Keithel Macha.

Both Sanjoy and Dutta were armed and they are known to Lokendro since they are living in the same locality, the DGP said.

The seven migrant workers were put on to his (Lokendro) van and both Sanjoy and Dutta also got into the van and Lokendro was forced to drive to Heiyel Hangoon.

On reaching there, the migrant workers were asked to get down and Lokendro was asked to take his van some distance away.

Thereafter, Sanjoy, Dutta and another person who had originally forced Lokendro to drive to Wabagai Terapishak shot dead all seven migrant workers.

After the work was done, all three of them got into the van and made Lokendro to drive till Sekmaijin bridge where the three got down with their weapons.

Thereafter, Lokendro came back to his house.

Both Sanjoy and Dutta are known KYKL activists, the DGP said, adding that Sanjoy is holding the rank of corporal of the proscribed outfit.

The DGP further informed that Lokendro had also been taken to RIMS morgue and there he identified the two dead bodies recovered from the scene of the encounter to be those of Sanjoy and Dutta.

The DGP said that the police is making all out efforts to trace out the third person involved in the killing.

Police have also got some vital clues about the culprits involves in the incidents that took place at Keibi Takhel area and Kakching in which more migrant workers were killed on March 18. These clues also point to KYKL being responsible for the killings, the DGP contended.