Imphal, October 10 2009: Troops of 28 Assam Rifles HW IG AR (South) shot dead three suspected insurgents in an alleged encounter at Uyan Chiru under Irilbung Police Station in Imphal East yesterday.

A press release from the HQ IG AR (South) stated that on discovering the presence of armed UG cadres in Chiru areas, troops of 28 AR launched an operation and aeliminated the three UG cadres.

The press release further stated that one AK 56 rifle with magazine containing 25 live rounds, one 9 mm pistol with magazine and six live rounds, one Italy made .32 pistol with magazine and six live rounds and one China-made hand grenade were recovered from the slain cadres.

The three dead bodies along with the recovered items have been handed over to Irilbung Police Station at 10 pm yesterday itself, the press release stated.

Meanwhile, the suspected UG cadre killed by troops of 31 AR in an allleged encounter near border pillar No.81 under MOreh Police Station in Chandel district in the wee hours of October 7 has been identified as one Kamal Chhetri (32), of Tamu Ward No.13 in Myanmar.

He was a trader who used to take merchandise from Moreh to Dimapur.

He had left home at Tamu for Ne;al on the day of Durga Puja.

On the other hand, two out of the three persons killed by troops of 28 AR in an alleged encounter on the night of October 8 at a place between Sanapat and Andro under Yairipok Police Station have also been identified Haobijam Ibomcha (48) from Loitang Sandum.

He was a pastor of a church.

He had been staying at Keirao Lai Leikai since three years ago.

Family sources said, he had left home to purchase goods for his shop for Jiribam.

The other one was Md Molecule@Firoz (22) from Kshetrigao Thambalkhong.

He was the driver of a Tata Magic plying between Imphal and Lilong.

Post mortem was conducted on all the three bodies at Lilong PHC today.

Their families have taken the bodies.

It is worth mentioning here that within the last three days, seven persons said to be underground cadres had been killed by Assam Rifles at different places in the state.