Imphal, January 22: Troops of 3 Assam Rifles shot dead an alleged KYKL activist at Salem Veng, located about half a kilometre south of Churachandpur Police Station at around 10.30 pm yesterday.

However, claiming that the slain youth identified as Sandham Raju (36) s/o S Kaoba of Moirang Chingei was an innocent person, the family members have refused to take back the body.

Issuing a statement in connection with the killing, PIB (Defence Wing) said that on January 21, based on specific information a major incident was averted when troops of 3 Assam Rifles under Headquarters 57 Mountain Division eliminated one KYKL cadre at Salem Veng in Churachandpur town.

The militants had been planning to disrupt the Republic Day celebration in the township, the statement said.

Following a tip off that two KYKL cadres had entered Churachandpur town, the Quick Reaction Team of 3 Assam Rifles swung into action and reached Salem Veng located on the southern side of the densely populated town.

The KYKL militants fired at the Assam Rifles team and were attempting to escape making use of the darkness.

But in the gun fight one KYKL cadre was eliminated and the other managed to escape.

Detailed operations are continuing to nab the other militant, said PIB.

One 5.56 Italian Pistol with two magazines and some ammunition along with one Nokia mobile phone were recovered from the slain cadre.

The body of the slain cadre along with the items recovered from him have been handed over to the police.

Security has been beefed up in and around the town that will host the Republic Day parade, the PIB (Defence Wing) statement added.

According to the report furnished by 3 AR to the police, the youth was killed in the retaliatory firing during the course of an operation at Salam Veng last night.

One point 32 pistol, two magazines and two live rounds of ammunition have been recovered from the possession of the slain youth besides two empty cartridges from the site of the incident.

However, the family members claimed that Raju was an innocent person.

They have also refused to take back the body.

There was one fatal bullet mark on the head of the deceased.

According to information received by the press, Raju was married to a woman from Salam Veng of Churachandpur who works in Churachandpur District Hospital.

His wife is the daughter of Thualkhanpao, the then SP of Bishnupur who was killed in an ambush laid by UGs near Tronglaobi some years back.

It has been about two years that Raju had been staying along with his wife at Salam Veng.

On that fateful day, Raju was allegedly called out from home twice by the personnel of 3 Assam Rifles and was later shot dead near the gate of the house.

The police have retrieved the body and deposited the same at the mortuary of Churachandpur District Hospital.

Meanwhile, in protest against the killing a public meeting was held at the Maigei Ngakpa Shanglen of Khumujamba Meetei Leikai today.

Along with formation of a Joint Action Committee, called JAC Against the Killing of Innocent S Raju Singh with Heisnam James Singh as its convenor, the meeting resolved not to take back the body until an agreement is arrived with the authority concerned in connection with the killing, said a statement.