Imphal, March 27: Under contrasting claims one Md Nasimudin (34) s/o Md Jamarudin of Keirao Makha Leikai was shot dead by Imphal East commandos at a paddy field located in Naharup Yangbi Maning Leikai under Porompat police station at about 6.10 this morning.

While police claimed that the deceased was a UG cadre, family members maintained that Md Nasimudin was an innocent civilian.

According to information received from police, an encounter ensued when a team of Imphal East police commandos, acting on a specific tip off about presence of UG cadres in Naharup area, rushed there.

Even as two/three UG cadres managed to escape, one was slain in the encounter.

One .32 pistol, one misfired case and two live rounds were recovered from the possession of the slain cadre, informed police sources.

However, according to information received from the family of the deceased and the local people, Md Nasimudin was a married man having a son and two daughters.

Even though his elder brother MI Khan is a member of a faction of the PULF, Nasimudin was an innocent civilian, they contended.

They maintained that Md Nasimudin was picked up by police from the Keirao Makha Leikai residence of one Md Salim (54) at about 4 am.

The commando team coming in three Gypsys then took Nasimudin to Yangbi Maning Leikai paddy field.

While commando personnel in two Gypsys were keeping vigil on any passerby, the other personnel in the third Gypsy shot him dead in cold blood, the local people reported while conveying that they could hear Nasimudin crying 'Ima' moments before his death.

Infuriated over the alleged cold blooded killing, a large crowd of women converged towards the commandos.

The commandos fired tear gas shells and retreated from the spot.

On the other hand, a few minutes after Md Nasimudin was pulled up by the commandos, the family members and women of the locality came to the official quarter of Minister Allaudin Khan at Babupara at about 6.20 am seeking the Minister's intervention for safe release of Md Nasimudin.

However, the vehicle in which the family members and women were travelling was blocked by police men near State Guest House, Sanjenthong.

In the meantime, one neighbour of Nasimudin who went to RIMS morgue came and conveyed the death of Nasimudin and his corpse lying at RIMS mortuary.

On hearing the news of Nasimudin's death, his wife fainted and was taken away quickly.

The corpse of Md Nasimudin is lying unclaimed at RIMS morgue.

Later in the afternoon, a joint action committee christened JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Md Nasimudin, Keirao Makting has been constituted and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister.

The memorandum, a copy of which has been made available to press, contended that Md Nasimudin was an innocent civilian serving as a Muster Roll employee in PWD.

It demanded institution of a Judicial Enquiry into the killing and appropriate punishment to the commando personnel involved.

Other demands include payment of Rs 5 lakhs as ex-gratia to the bereaved family and a suitable Govt job to a member of the bereaved family.