Imphal, May 25: At least five persons have been killed in a shoot-out between a combined force of KNA/KLA and KRA at Saikul public cemetery, about 2 kms North East of Saikul police station at about 11.30 last night.

According to information received from a police source, the five slain cadres have been identified as Mangkholal Doungel (48) s/o Khuplan, Laljang Khongsai (46) s/o Khulkhalun, Kamlen Dimngel (29) s/o late Thangsei, Doukhohel Touthang (70) s/o late Letkhothang and Lamkholun Chongloi (33) s/o Seikholam.

While Lamkholun belonged to Lhungtin village Saikul, all the other slain individuals belonged to Saijang village.

All the corpses were discovered this morning.

Lamkholun Chongloi was cadre of the KRA while the four others were suspected to be supporters of KNA.

After post mortem at Saikul police station, all the corpses have been handed over to their respective family members.

Meanwhile, information and publicity secretary of the KRA informed that the encounter ensued when around 40 of its cadres moved to Saikul cemetery to flush out KNA/KLA cadres who were moving in Saikul area.

The KNA/KLA cadres numbered about 17, he said.

During the encounter which lasted for about 40 minutes, four KNA/KLA cadres were killed.

Two .303 rifles and 80 live rounds were recovered from the slain cadres, Misao further claimed.

Except for one cadre lost in the gun fight, the KRA did not suffer any other casualty nor there was any lost of weapons, Misao informed while reiterating that no other group should move in Saikul area which he claimed was the operational area of the KRA.

On the other hand, the KSO Sadar Hills, contending that Mangkholal Doungel, Laljang Khongsai, Kamlen Dimngel and Doukhohel Touthang were innocent villagers of Saijang, has strongly condemned their killing.

A press release issued by the student body appealed to all Kuki armed UGs not to carry out any harsh torture or killing of innocent civilians in future.

It also shared the pain and grief of the bereaved families.

Jail riot probe
In connection with the riot that erupted in Sajiwa Jail yesterday resulting in injuries to 39 inmates, Director General of Prisons AK Parashar has instructed the Jail SP to conduct an enquiry.

A high ranking officer of Sajiwa Jail informed that DG Prisons AK Parashar has instructed Jail SP L Kipgen to conduct an enquiry into the causes of the riot and to submit a report by tomorrow.

After perusing the report of the SP, it will be decided whether to conduct another enquiry or not.

Responsibilities may be fixed according to the findings of the enquiry, disclosed the official.

Jail staff could not control yesterday's skirmishes in time and it turned out to be a riot within a very short time in which 39 prisoners suffered injuries of varying degrees due to acute shortage of staff, informed the official.

It has been 20 years since recruitment of jail staff was put on hold.

The DG Prisons has written four times to the State Government to fill up the 625 vacant posts of jail staff but there has no response till date, he conveyed.