Families refuse to claim bodies
Victims were militants and arms recovered, claims PRO HQ IGAR (south)
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 24 2015 : The families of three persons who were killed by security personnel in an alleged encounter on Saturday refused to claim the bodies from the mortuary.

They maintain that they were innocent persons without any nexus with militants.

However security forces say that they were insurgents and arms and ammunition were found from them.

The dead persons have been identified as Paolin Khongshai (37) son of Late Thongam Khongsai of B Gomnon village, Nameirakapam Rajen (36) of MNRF (Alan) son of Nameirakpam Mohindro of Sugnu Sipahi under Moirang police station and Phakuirin Khongyo alias Akhoi (40) of Phungpum Awanglei, Ukhrul district.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued by PRO HQ IGAR (South), it is said that combined force of 2 Assam Rifles and 11 Paratroopers raided B Gomnon village on Saturday morning during which these persons were killed.

The security personnel have handed over the following arms and ammunition to police saying that these were recovered from the dead bodies.

They are one 9mm Bereta & Magazine; two 7.62 mm Pistol and Magazine; three IEDs, sixteen electric detonators; twenty eight 9mm Pistol rounds; twenty one 7.62 mm Pistol rounds; one hundred and fifty six 7.62mm AK 47 (live rounds); Twenty one 5.56 mm M-16 (live rounds); twenty three fired case 7.62 mm AK 47; fifteen fire case 5.56 mm M-16 and seven fired case 40 mm of Lethod were recovered from the site of encounter.

The security personnel say that two of them were militants of the Manipur Naga Revolutionary Front while the third was of the Kuki National Front (Nehlun faction) .

The security forces nabbed one person with two crude IEDs and several rounds of 7.63 MM Calibre, the apprendee was identified as "Sergent" Luhaban alias Apam of MNRF (Alan), son of S Ngachun of Kasom Khunou under Ukhrul district.

The dead bodies were deposited to the mortuary of JN Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal on Saturay night.

Innocents were killed in fake encounter: Kuki Inpi
Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills strongly condemned the indiscriminate firing on the innocent public by the Assam Rifles at B Gamon on May 23 resulting in the killing three persons including one village church secretary. Speaking to the media persons at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) morgue, Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills President Thangkham Lupheng asked the State Government to take appropriate action against the Assam Rifles personnel who were involved in the incident within 48 hours and will not claim the dead bodies until their demands are acceded.

Kuki Inpi threatened to launch stirs and other forms of agitations with the support from many civil organizations if the Government fails to concede their demands within the deadline.

Thangkham demanded to compensate to the victim families.

He alleged that the incident was a case of fake encounter and "we have willing to provide the witness" .

Civil organisation leaders form KSO, Kuki Women Union, Human Rights attended in the press meet.

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