Imphal, March 07 2009: The chairman of PULF (Azad) faction, its finance chief along with two others were killed in an encounter today in Imphal East district even as the chairman of Umar Farooq faction of the same party has been apprehended with its woman Chief Project Officer from Mumbai by the security forces.

Killing of the four leaders of PULF (Azad) including the chairman by a combined force of Imphal East police commandos and troops of 28 Assam Rifles along with the recovery of arms and ammunition and also arrest of the chairman of another rival faction from Mumbai in a joint operation of Manipur police, troops of 12 Maratha LI and Mumbai police are a heavy blow to both the factions of the PULF, said SP, Imphal East, Th Radeshyam.

The deceased cadres have been identified as Shekher Md Azad Khan (35), son of (L) Abdul Zalil of Chirai Mayang Imphal, who was the chairman of the outfit, Md Sajid @ Rajkhan @ Nahapik, chief of army cum finance in-charge, Azad Khan (43), son of (L) Nasiruddin of Yairipok and Feroz Khan (28), son of Raosum Ali of Sangaithel Mamang Leikai of Thoubal district.

They were gunned down by the combined team of Imphal East police commandos and 28 AR during a shoot out at Keirao in Imphal East early Saturday morning at about 2:10 which lasted four about thirty minutes.

Addressing the press in this connection besides displaying the arms and weapons recovered, Superintendent of Police, Imphal East district, Th Radheshyam informed that on receiving specific information that some gunmen were moving around in the Keirao of Imphal East area and some militants were planning of creating disturbances in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections, the combined team of security forces were rushed at night to check the development.

Following the search operation the security forces formed a double cordon ring and surrounded the militants, the police officer informed and added that in the ensuing encounter that followed for about thirty minutes, four of the militants including the chairman and the outfit's army chief were killed.

The arms and ammunitions obtained from the decease consisted of two AK 56 rifles, two magazines, 35 empty cases, 17 (seventeen) live rounds, two lethode cell, a lethode gun, two Chinese hand grenades, two torch lights, a knife and a M-20 pistol with two live rounds.

On the other hand, the two militant leaders of the Umar Farooq faction were arrested by a combined team of Imphal East police commandos and 12 Maratha Light Infantry (MLI) from Ghot Gaong, Raigarh district of Maharashtra on Thursday, March 5 under the assistance of Taloja police station, Mumbai.

They have been identified as Md Tabi @ Umar Kaji alias Umar bin Usman (42), son of Md Yusuf Ali of Kwakta, chairman of the Umar Farooq faction and RK Nandarani (38), wife of (L) Ramson @ Sanajaoba of Kakching Paji Leikai in Thoubal district.

SP Radheshyam informed that the two leaders were staying at Ghot Gaong by running a shop and masterminding their work in Manipur.

He also informed that they would be brought to Imphal tomorrow for proceedings in court.