UG suspects gunned down, arms seized
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 22: Three suspected underground activists have been reportedly killed by a combined team of Imphal West police commandos, 16 Assam Rifles and 22 Maratha Light Infantry after an encounter at Kangchup Lamlongei Maning Samutabi Pat, located about 6 kms north-west of Lamshang Police Station today morning.

Two AK-56 Rifles and one hijacked Maruti car used by the UG suspects have also been recovered from the spot.

confirming the encounter and subsequent slaying of the three persons separate statements issued by Imphal West Superintendent of Police Clay Khongsai, PIB (DW) and PRO IGAR (S) Col Pant, informed that State and Central security forces were alerted after receiving information of UG activists loitering in and around Lamsang Bazar in a hijacked Maruti car.

Body of a slain UG being retrieved and (inset) some of the securitymen involved in the clash

As the search was on, the UGs targeted one of the commando vehicles before accelerating towards Phayeng side amid sporadic firing from the fleeing UGs at a patrol party of the 16 Assam Rifles near Lamlongei.

The hot chase culminated in a brief shoot-out and elimination of the three attackers, the statements conveyed with the AR and PIB releases suspecting the deceased trio to be PREPAK cadres.

The PIB statement attributed success of the security forces to 'absolute synergy' amongst the forces of 57 Mountain Division, IGAR (S) and police commandos.

According to Information culled from the site of the incident, the Commando team of the Imphal West led by SI John was on frisking operation at Lamshang Bazar area at around 8.20 am today when a Maruti car was coming from the side of Taothong.

Apart from the driver of the Commando team who was inside the Gypsy, SI John and other escort personnel were on the road side frisking passers-by.

When the Commandos signalled the car to stop, the occupants fired at the commandos and sped toward Lairenkabi side.

The commandos reacted swiftly and went after the fleeing attackers.

However, eye witnesses said that the Maruti car of the suspected UGs had sped far ahead of the Maruti Gypsy of the Commandos.

While fleeing from the pursuing Commandos, the suspected UGs also fired some rounds towards personnel of 16 Assam Rifles posted at Kangchup who were on ROP near Lamlongei Lamkhai before speeding away towards Lamlongei Maning Lampak side.

After locking up and leaving the Maruti car bearing registration no.MN1K-3069 at Lamlongei Maning Lampak, the suspected UGs ran toward Samutabi Pat Loukon.

additional forces of police commandos arrived from Imphal and cordoned off the area in coordination with the personnel of Assam Rifles and Maratha Light Infantry.

Stationing their vehicle on the side of the road, the pursuing commandos waded through the water-logged paddy field tracking down the fleeing UGs for nearly 2 kms before the encounter ensued.

By the time this reporter reached the encounter site, one of the slain persons was found lying inside a deep canal holding an AK-56 Rifle with the two others discovered on the earth dam located some 100 feet away from the canal.

One of them was lying on his stomach with an AK 56 Rifle while the other was lying on his back with no weapon.

The driving license issued in the name of one L Raju s/o Lukhoi of Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai, with date of birth as 1.2.1978 was recovered from the pocket of the unarmed UG.

The two AK-56 Rifles recovered along with two bayonets by the security forces contained two magazines each loaded with 13 and 15 rounds respectively.

All the bodies have been picked up deposited at the mortuary of RIMS where identities of the three slain persons could be established as Gurumayum Nilachandra alias Ngangang (28) s/o Gopal of Uripok Huidrom Leikai, Konthoujam Indra alias Mahadev (18) s/o Ibocha of Lambal Awang Leikai and Laitonjam Raju (30) s/o Lukhoi of Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai.

police quoted family members as saying that G Nilachandra was a rickshaw puller by profession and had been arrested on an earlier occasion by police while Raju's whereabouts remained unknown after he left home about a year back.

The Maruti car used by the suspected UGs belongs to one Usham Hemanta of Taokhong Ayungba under Lamshang PS.

The car had been reportedly taken from his house this morning by three unidentified armed persons.