Imphal, November 06 2008: Claims and counter claims between the police on one hand and the family members of the deceased on the other, have cropped up with regard to the two persons killed on Wednesday evening in an alleged encounter with the Thoubal police commandos at Thoubal Khunou in Thoubal district.

Although the family members of the deceased have revealed different version regarding the incident, the police claimed that the tw o deceased were suspected militant cadres who were killed during a shoot out at Thoubal Khunou on Wednesday evening at around 6:30.During a frisking routine of the police commandos, the militants began to shoot at the security forces.

In a retaliation shoot out the suspected militants were killed, alleged the police press release.

A .32 pistol loaded with (four) live rounds of .32 ammunition and one Chinese made hand grenade were recovered from the deceased as per the information of the press release.

On the other hand, family members of the deceased have identified the two slain persons killed by Thoubal police commandos on Wednesday evening at Thoubal Khunou and held them innocent civilians who were picked up by the forces and then killed later.

They have been identified as Phamdom Inaocha, 39, s/o Ph Rajen of Arapti Lilong, a father of two and a former LIC agent and Md.Musha alias Ibomcha, 28, s/o (L) Banyamin of Lilong bazaar and a father of two kids too.

Protesting against the 'killing of innocent people', family members of the deceased stated that these two persons were picked from the house of Md.Najibul, 28, s/o Nizamuddin by the Thoubal police commandos and were killed later.

A Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed against this killing in a public meeting held at Lilong bazaar, resolved for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) as it was disturbing the lives of the people.

The resolution also demanded an ex-gratia of Rs.5 lakhs each for the two deceased from the government else warned of an agitation.

Led by its convenor Md.Kabir and S.Bogendro, the JAC also submitted a memoramdum to the Chief Minister highlighting these demands today evening.