Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 27:
Senior PREPAK leader and its Publicity Secretary, Meiraba was shot dead by personnel of 17 Assam Rifles at Nungou Ching in Thoubal district under Lilong police today.
He carried a cash reward of Rs ten lakhs on his head.
He joined the outfit in 1980 and was arrested four times.
The Assam Rifles said that based on intelligence inputs Assam Rifles troops were launched to arrest Meiraba who was holding a meeting at a house at Waithou.
When the column of 17 Assam rifles was moving towards Waithou they were fired upon from the hill sides.
The security personnel immediately retaliated and chased the militants.
After an intense chase one of the parties of Assam Rifles closed in on some of the militants at Lilong Chingjao Khun, said the release.
An encounter lasted for about 30 minutes and in the ensuing gun fight Meiraba was shot dead, said Assam Rifles.
Two Maruti Gypsys were destroyed in the firing by the militants.
Assam Rifles further said that one 9 mm original pistol made in Rifle Factory, Ishapore bearing registration number 16108115 was recovered from the body of the PREPAK leader.
Six live rounds of ammunition and one fired case were also recovered.
A letter addressed to Meiraba, as Acting Chairman-PREPAK written in Manipuri script was also found in his possession, said AR.
Assam Rifles said Meiraba was also an important figure of the MPLF an umbrella organization of the UNLF, PLA and PREPAK.
Meiraba was one of the front ranking leaders of PREPAK.
He was at one time the acting chairman and was also the Finance Secretary-in-Charge of the Outfit.
He was appointed as Secretary Publicity and Propaganda on March 31, 2001 and was an important member of the permanent committee of MPLF.
Unofficial sources charged that the Assam Rifles picked up Meiraba from a house at Palace compound yesterday at about 11.30 pm.
Meiraba was 40 years of age and hailed from Sekmaijin Thongam.