Imphal, February 06 2010: An underground activist was gunned down by combined forces of Thoubal police commandos and troops of Assam Rifles in a counter insurgency operations in the wee hour of today even as five undergrounds were also nabbed by the security forces in the last 24 hour.

The underground suspected to be a cadre of United People Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) was also killed in a reported gunfight between a combined force of Thoubal police commandos and troops of 21 Assam Rifles and UGs at Thongjao village under Waikhong police station of Thoubal district.

The clash erupted at about half pass midnight when the combined force rushed to the area based on tip-off of loitering some armed UGs suspected to belong to UPPK, a police officer of the district said.

The dead body of UG cadre was found when the combined team conducted search operation at the clash site after exchange of fire ceased.

They also recovered one 9 mm pistol loaded with four live rounds, one lathod gun with two lathod shells, the police said.

The yet to identified dead body of the militant has been deposited at RIMS morgue, Imphal for official identification today.

Imphal west police commandos also apprehended two PREPAK cadres identified as Maibam Abung @ Nanao (27) son of late Naba of Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Leikai and Hijam Premkumar @ Suresh (31) son of Chinglen of Phumlou Siphai Maning Leikai presently residing at Meitei Langol.

A statement of the Senior SP, Imphal west, L Kailun claimed that they were activists of PREPAK )VC group) and rounded up from Khoyathong Pukhri Mapal at about 12.30 pm today acting on a credible information.

During on spot verification, police came to know that they were working under the command of self style captain Chinglen of PREPAK (VC group) and assigned to extort money from hotels, gas agencies etc.

for party fund of the group.

Troops of Assam Rifles also apprehended three undergrounds activists, two KYKL and one PREPAK from separate places today, a statement of the IGAR(S) said.

The two KYKL cadres identified as self style private Mohan Meetei (30) son of Shamugou of Irengband Sabal Leikai (Army no.5277) and self style private Nawo alias Dhanvir (28) son of Yoge (Army no.5788) of same village with the former were apprehended from general area of Kakching today at about 9.30 am.

Troops of 28 AR also nabbed a PREPAK activist during an operation in the general area of RIMS today at about 10 am.

He has been identified as Maibam Nanao Alhemba (30) son of M Bijoy of Uripok Shinam Leikai, the statement added.

On the other hand, the identities of the two undergrounds activists slain in the hand of a combined team of Imphal east police commandos and troops of 38 Assam Rifles in encounter near the foothill at Kamu Ching in Imphal east district last night have been established today.

They were activists of a group of KCP (MC), police said.

They were identified as Aheibam Tony alias Noubi (26) son of late Chaoba of Khurai Soiba Leikai and Laishram Bobby alias Noubi (25) son of Laishram Chouba (same father alias name and father with the former) of Nongren village.