Imphal, April 04 2009: Combined security forces gunned down four suspected underground activists in encounters at Nongada and Lamphel areas.

The Nongada incident took place in the wee hours today during which two persons were slain while at around 9.45 pm today the two more were eliminated by Imphal west district police commandos.

According to police source, a commando team based on report of presence of UG cadres in Lamphel area rushed to the Imphal West DC office and Langol Games Village road but came under fire from unidentified persons who are consequently slain in retaliatory action.

While two were slain at the spot others managed to escape taking advantage of darkness, the source said while listing one 9 mm pistol, three empty cartridges and a Chinese hand-grenade as items recovered from near the bodies of the slain duo.

On the otherhand, family members contradicting police claim said the two slain persons slain in Nongada area under Lamlai police station were arrested from a house at Nungoi Huidrom last midnight.

According to a statement of SSP (Thoubal) Clay Khongsai in connection with the incident, at around 1 am today, a combined team of Thoubal Police Commandos and troops of 23 and 39 Assam Rifles rushed in and lay in wait along the roads leading to Nongada and Leimakhong Mapal following specific information about presence of UG activists in these two villages.

At around 3.30 am, 4-5 people were seen moving about suspiciously and coming towards the security personnel after crossing a paddy field.

When the combined force shouted at them to identity themselves, the UG suspects who were equipped with sophisticated arms opened fire at the security personnel.

The combined force also immediately retaliated the firing.

In the ensuring encounter which lasted for about 10 minutes, two UG suspects were killed while the others managed to escape.

Further search of the area led to the recovery of one AK-47 Rifle, one magazine loaded with 13 ammunition, one 9 mm pistol and magazine loaded with three rounds, one .36 high explosive hand grenade and a detonator, the statement of the SPP informed.

However, along with establishing identity of the two hailing from Bishnupur district as Khwairakpam Kunja alias Konthou (25) s/o Chinglensana of Thanga Ithing and Oinam Premjit alias Tondonba (22) s/o Rajen of Ningthoukhong Kha-Khunou, their family members, though admitting they were activists of the proscribed UNLF, asserted that both of them have been arrested from a house at Nungoi Huidrom last midnight.

The bodies have been taken by their respective family members after post-mortem examination at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital.

On the other hand, the identity of the person who was found shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Pourabi Nungoi at around 7 pm yesterday has been established Salam Joy (32) s/o Thoiba of Nongmaikhong Mayai Leikai but staying at Ningthoukhong Makha Leikai.

He was said to be a KCP cadre.

According to his father Thoiba, Joy left home to join the outfit around 7 years ago and he heard that his son was staying at Pourabi area.

Thoiba also said that he received the information that his son was shot dead by three persons in civilian cloths while coming out to have Pan after his dinner.

The body has been claimed by the family members after post-mortem at RIMS today.

Meanwhile, the two alleged UG suspects who were shot dead by a combined force of Thoubal Police Commandos and personnel of 21 Assam Rifles during a reported encounter at Irengband on the night of April 2 have turned out to be residents of Wabagai.

They were Mayengbam Ajitkumar alias Nanao (24) s/o late Anou of Wabagai Kadajit but staying at Wabagai Yangbi Maning and Ahongsangbam Chourajit (32) s/o Maipak of Wabagai Thingel Leikai.

But the police have stated that the bodies which are still lying at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital are yet to be identified and no body come forward to claim the two bodies by April 8, the same would be disposed off in accordance to law.

Issuing a notice in this connection, the Officer-in-Charge of Kakching Police Station have also mentioned the description of the deceased and the cloths wearing by them.

Asserting that Ajitkumar and Chourajit were innocent persons and decrying their killing, people of Wabagai area staged a protest demonstration at Wabagai Lamkhai Bazar today.

Along with formation of a JAC in protest against the killing, a public meeting at Wabagai Kalika Lai Lampak yesterday had also reportedly resolved to press the Government for instituting a judicial inquiry and punish the culprits.