2010 records lowest number of encounters
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 20 2011: The preceding year 2010 recorded the lowest number of encounters between security forces and insurgents though the year witnessed numerous cases of bomb/firing attacks, abduction of Government officials, Pradhans and civilians for ransom.

The year also witnessed many historical events ranging from the abortive attempt of NSCN-IM leader Th Muivah to visit Manipur, prolonged highway blockades, arrest of UNLF Chairman RK Meghen to inauguration of the multi-storeyed market complexes of Khwairamband Keithel by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and outstanding performances of Manipuri players in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

According to information and data collected by The Sangai Express, 70 insurgents were killed last year by security forces in reported cases of gun-fight.

During the same period, 78 numbers of assorted weapons and a large number of ammunition were seized.

This figure is exclusive of the number of arms and ammunition recovered at the time of nabbing UG cadres and search operations conducted at UG hideouts.

On the other hand, District Police of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur and Thoubal eliminated 37 UG cadres.

Till December 26 last year, Thoubal District Police eliminated 20 UG cadres besides nabbing 170 UG cadres and eight gang members.

Arms and ammunition seized by Thoubal Police during the preceding year included 16 rifles of AK series, two M-16 rifles, two sten carbines, three grenade launcher guns, 40 pistols, one revolver, 55 hand grenades and 1,509 numbers of ammunition of different calibres.

Till December 28, Bishnupur District Police shot dead six cadres of different KCP groups and one PULF cadre.

They also succeeded in pulling up 254 cadres of different UG groups including 44 women.

The seizure list included six hand grenades, nine 9 mm pistols, two .32 pistols, one lathode gun, eight bombs and a number of ammunition.

Out of eight Government officials abducted by UG groups last year, Bishnupur Police succeeded in rescuing seven.

Their Imphal East counterparts gunned down two cadres each of UPPK, KCP and PREPAK and another UG cadre during 2010 .

Along with arresting 324 UG cadres, Imphal East District Police seized six AK 56 rifles, one AK 47 rifle, one Insas LMG, thirtyseven 9 mm pistols, three .32 pistols, one US carbine, two lathode guns and 19 shells, 19 hand grenades and a number of ammunition.

Though Imphal West District Police eliminated only three UG cadres, they made the record for maximum number of arrests.

Imphal West District Police apprehended as many as 377 UG cadres in addition to seizing 19 AK rifles and 3524 live rounds, three M-16 rifles and 984 rounds, three G-3 rifles, six US carbines, one carbine, 123 lathode shells, forty 9 mm pistols, nine point 32 pistols, one 7.65 mm pistol, one RPG, seven point 36 hand grenades, one WT set, one point 32 revolver, one country made pistol, one point 38 pistol, three non-metallic mine bombs, 40 Kgs of explosive materials and 40 metres of safety wires.

The number of insurgents killed by security forces in 2010 was comparatively quite low.

In the previous year (2009), security forces eliminated 302 UG cadres while in 2008 the number of UG cadres slain by security forces was 171 as reported in this newspaper.

In January 2010, one IRB personnel who fled away with arms was shot dead by security forces together with 12 UG cadres.

During the same month, unidentified armed persons murdered a mother-daughter duo (Chanbi and Ibemcha) at Phayeng.

One RK Ratanmala of Khurai was also found murdered at Hiyangthang Poila paddy field.

Two ZRA cadres were killed in inter-UG gun fight at Shingtam village as one non-local labourer was shot dead.

An accidental fire made by a police commando killed a staff of OK Hotel.

Two commando personnel sustained in a pre-Republic Day bomb blast at Minuthong.

Two UNLF cadres surrendered in February while one IRB personnel and Uttam of KYKL-MDF were shot dead in different incidents.

In March, one AR personnel was killed in an encounter with PLA at Salungpham as security forces gunned down three KYKL-MDF cadres at Kamuching.

Three Manipuris were murdered at Lakhijan, Assam in March.

KYKL army chief Ningthoujam Tomba alias Koireng was arrested from Siliguri during the same month.

The month of April was marked by murder of NCP leader Chungsei Haokip inside a brick field and the dead of two cadres of a KCP faction in a bomb explosion at Sekta.

One student was killed at Mao Gate as police opened fire to control an agitating crowd on May 4.One suspected NSCN (IM) cadre was killed when a bomb he planted to destroy Kangpokpi bridge went off accidentally.

In June, Assistant Horticulture Officer N Sarat was shot at his home at Oinam.

Former KCP cadre Gurumayum Ibemcha alias Premlata was also shot dead in the same month.

The month of July saw killing of 10 Kuki UG cadres in an inter-UG gun fight.

One Thoubal Police commando officer was thrashed to dead by a mob at Lilong Ushoipokpi in August.

Out of two brothers (Naorem Modhu Singh and Budhachandra) from Khoujumantabi pulled up by Assam Rifles, Modhu Singh died in AR custody.

In October, Utlou Zilla Parishad Member Thokchom Sanayaima was shot dead at his Nambol Thiyam residence.

One CRPF personnel shot dead three colleagues before killing himself at Sangaiprou during October.

Out of two Assam Rifles personnel stabbed at Khonghampat, one died in December.

A nude body of a woman was discovered at Churachandpur.

Later ZRA pulled up three individuals involved in raping and murdering the woman and handed them over to police within the same month.

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