Imphal, January 14 2009: RESPONDING TO the claims of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the killing of Moirangthem Tomba the victim was innocent and he was a timber dealer, not a militant as stated by security forces, the Superintendent of Thoubal police, Clay Khongsai, IPS, in a press statement maintained today that Tomba was a militant and had been earlier arrested.

The SP informed that Tomba, who was killed in an encounter at Angangching on Sunday, January 11 at about 10:30 a.m.was a militant and informed that he had been arrested earlier as a member of the Kangleipak Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) under FIR No.14(8)2007 WKG PS U/s 17/20 UA(P)A, Act '04 .

Tomba was killed allegedly in an encounter with the combined force of Thoubal police commandos and 21 AR at Agangching under Kakching police station on Sunday, January 11 at about 10:30 a.m.A 9mm pistol was also reportedly recovered from the deceased.

However, a JAC formed against this killing on Tuesday claimed that the victim was innocent and he was a timber dealer who was picked up by some elements alleged to be personnel of the combined force in the killing.

The JAC also alleged that Tomba was picked up from Kakching Khunou bus stand while he was waiting for a bus to purchase some timber and added that Tomba had with him a sum of Rs 32,000 .

In protest against this killing, the JAC has also called for a 48 hours bandh along the Indo-Burma from Wednesday which has adversely affected the means of transportation along the highway.