SFs scalp three KCP (MC) men
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 19 2009: Close on the heels of the arrest of a cadre of the Puranthaba group of the Lamyanba Khuman faction of the KCP (MC) by Bishnupur police, three cadres of the outfit were gunned down in an encounter with a combined security force today.

The cadre arrested earlier, as well as the three killed today, were involved in the killing of the driver of the Executive Engineer of LDA, a few days back, said police.

Bishnupur SP with the recovered shot gun and arms

Speaking to reporters, SP of Bishnupur police, K Jayenta, said that the shoot out occurred when a joint team of district police commandos along with personnel of 4/8 GR rushed to Chiningkhol, in Bishnupur district today, following specific inputs.

In the ensuing gun fight, three cadres of the Puranthaba group of the Lamyanba Khuman faction of the KCP (MC) were killed, he added.

The shoot out occurred at the Parengba foothills of Ngariyan range, at a house located at the outskirts of Chiningkhol village, located about 2 kms north east of Bishnupur police station, said the SP.

Two 9 mm pistols along with five bullets, as well as a shot gun taken away from the EE of the LDA were recovered from the slain cadres, said Jayenta.

The shot gun was taken away from the EE on July 15, when two KCP cadres arrived at the work site of the officer at Oinam Lairenkabi.

The cadres tried to take the EE away, but their attempt was thwarted.

With their bid to abduct the EE failing, the cadres opened fire, seriously injuring the driver of the EE.

The driver, identified as Yumnam Manichandra, later succumbed to his injuries at Shija hospitals.

Acting swiftly on the case, Bishnupur police along with 4/8 GR had arrested the finance-in-charge, Bishnupur district, of the outfit on July 17 near his house at Ngaikhong Khunou.

The arrested cadre has been identified as Laishram Shyamchandra alias Shyam alias Bishorjit (31) and he was paraded before the media yesterday.

Jayenta said that when the troops closed in at the house, where the three cadres were taking shelter at Chiningkhol today, they opened fire with the shot gun.

They were killed in retaliatory firing.

The SP said that it has been confirmed that the three were involved the killing of the driver of the EE.

It was due to intelligence sharing between the police and Army, as well as co-operation from the public, that the three could be eliminated today, claimed the police officer.

According to documents recovered from the three slain cadres, two of them could be Salam Hemanta and Ningthoujam Chandra from Keibul.

The bodies have been deposited at RIMS morgue.