Imphal, April 30 2009: In separate incidents of violence over the last 24 hours, unidentified gunman shot dead a 26-year old youth near his own house at Ningthemcha Khul last night while a combined force gunned down a UG suspect during an encounter near New Tollen Village of Thoubal district today morning.

The first incident of killing the youth by unidentified gunmen reportedly took place at around 11.45 pm yesterday at Ningthemcha Khul Mamang Leikai under Lamlai Police Station of Imphal East District.

According to police report, the victim identified as Meinam Nanao alias Tangden (26) s/o Chinglen had been picked up by the unidentified gunmen while he was sleeping and shot him dead near the gate of the house.

Family members of Nanao informed that about of 5 to 6 unidentified persons armed with sophisticated weapons who came to the house at around 11.30 pm yesterday, two of them broke down the door of the house and took away Nanao after dragging him out from his bed.

Nanao was found shot dead along the road located just next to the house.

Although they could not recalled the dresses of the armed intruders as it was dark, the family members, however, noticed that one of the two persons who came inside the house covered his face with a cloth.

As the armed intruders were dragging Nanao, the family members tried to stop them and demanded to know his crime.

However, instead of listening to the pleading, the armed intruders opened blank firing and threaten other family members to stay away if they don't like to be killed.

Tangden had joined KYKL in 1998-99 and had even undergone military training of the outfit.

But he retired from the activities of the outfit on health ground and staying at home participating in the cultivation work to supplement the income of the family.

He left behind his wife and a young child.

The body has been handed over to the family members after pot mortem examination at RIMS.

Meanwhile, a combined force of Thoubal Police Commandos and 34 Assam Rifles shot dead a suspected underground activist during a reported encounter which took place early morning today at New Tollen village near Salungpham in Thoubal district.

According to a statement issued by SSP of Thoubal District Clay Khongsai, the encounter broke out while the combined force was conducting search operation.

Following a special tip off on the presence of UG cadres, the combined launched a massive search operation at Ukhongshang, Rimpam and surrounding areas of Salungpham.

At around 6 am while the operation was underway, information was received about the movement of 3 to 4 armed UG cadres from Salungpham to New Tollen village and the combined force immediately rushed into the area.

As the combined force was approaching the foothill of New Tollen village, the armed UG cadres equipped with sophisticated weapons opened fire at the security personnel.

The security force also retaliated the firing and ensuing exchange of firing which lasted for around 6 to 7 minutes, one UG cadre was killed though the other managed to escape taking advantage of the hilly terrain and thick growths.

After the encounter, further search of the area led to recovery of one 9 mm pistol loaded with one bullet and one magazine with three bullets.