Kadangband encounter: State bandh threatened, Army claims all killed were UG cadres
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 29 2015 : Claiming that one among two persons, killed in a reported encounter by 8 Assam Rifles troops at Kadangband last night, was a civilian, villagers of Kangchup Chingkhong have threatened to call a 24-hour State-wide bandh from January 31 midnight if the Government fails to order a Magisterial inquiry into the incident.

Kangchup Chingkhong villagers have constituted a JAC in this connection.

The two deceased persons have been identified as Khupneilal Neihsial (45) s/o (L) Lalam Neihsial of Kangchup Chingkhong and Mulkhosei Kipgen (40) s/o (L) Thalnun of Motbung.

Locals said that Khupneilal Neihsial was the secretary of Kangchup village authority and vice-president of Kuki Inpi, Tuibul Lhang (Kangchup) .

The vehicle used by the suspected militants and the gun found after the shoot out

Saying that he did not have any connection with any underground organisation, the villagers said that he is survived by his wife and two daughters.

They said that Khupneilal was forcefully taken away in a car by six unknown persons from his house last night.

When they were looking for Khupneilal's whereabouts after his abduction, they heard a gunshot at Kadangband side, the villagers said and added that they later found Khupneilal's bullet riddled body along with another body near Kadangband bridge.

Since early morning today, a large number of people gathered near the incident site and protested the killing of an innocent person, who was forcefully taken away by UG cadres.

On the other hand, police sources said that one small arms along with five live bullets were recovered from the Chevrolet AMBO LS car (WB-02X-6809) in which the armed persons were travelling.

A large number of detonators were also found lying on the road near the car and another small arms were recovered from a nearby bush, the police source added.

Meanwhile, PIB (Defence Wing) has claimed that all the persons who were killed and injured in the reported encounter were KNF (Nehlun) cadres.

In a statement, PIB (DW) said that the encounter took place at around 7.30 pm yesterday when six underground cadres travelling in a Chevrolet Car (WB 02X 6809) opened fire on the mobile vehicle check post of Red Shield Division established on the road between Kangchup and Kadangband.

The troops retaliated killing two of them on the spot and injuring three others.

The injured cadres were immediately evacuated to RIMS hospital and they were later identified as Helen Kipgen alias Lamuang Kipgen (30) of Sapermeina, Mamang Kipgen (25) of Keithelmanbi and Thanggoulen Khongsai (22) of Keithelmanbi.

Later, a team of Lamsang police arrived at the incident site and recovered a car, two 9 mm pistols along with magazines and 13 live ammunition of 9 mm, five detonators and some explosives, added PIB.

The incident site was also later inspected by a team of police forensic experts this morning, the statement added.

Our Kangpokpi correspondent adds: Speaking to media persons at RIMS morgue after constituting a JAC against last night's incident, JAC convenor Thangminlen Haokip said that if the Government fails to order a magisterial inquiry into the killing of civilian Khupneilal Neihsial and KNF cadre Mulkhosei Kipgen within January 31, the JAC would be compelled to impose a 24-hour State-wide general strike and would not claim the bodies.

The security personnel shot them from a very short range after stopping them without any warning or provocation, the convenor alleged and added that the security personnel should have frisked them first to know their identities.

The convenor added that opening fire on the cadres of a SoO group without verification is condemnable.

In the meantime, Kangchup Chingkhong village authority has clarified that Khupneilal Neihsial son of late Lallam Neihsial was the secretary of Kangchup village authority and was not related with any underground organization.

As such, the authority concerned must look into the matter to deliver justice.

Meanwhile, all business establishments along NH-2 between Kangpokpi and Motbung remained shut the entire day in the aftermath of last night's incident.