Police appeal against misleading propaganda
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 17 2024: Manipur Police have appealed to all the people not to spread misleading propaganda regarding the death of a PREPAK cadre in an encounter with Thoubal police commandos at Salungpham, Thoubal district on December 14 .

Speaking to media persons at the conference hall of SP Thoubal today, DIG (Range-2) Haobijam Jogeshchandra said that investigation is underway after a case was registered at Heirok police station in connection with the incident.

As per a forensic report, it appeared that the boy was killed by a bullet fired by one of them, Jogeshchandra said.

Notably, six other cadres of PREPAK were also arrested with arms following the encounter.

Acting on specific information, a team of Thoubal district police moved to Salungpham area.

The police team saw some people coming in two cars (Alto and A Star) in a suspicious manner.

As the police team asked them to halt, the people coming in the two cars opened fire towards the police who retaliated by opening fire in the area, the DIG (Range-2) said.

While one of them sustained injuries, six others were arrested.

Even though the injured person identified as Laishram Prem (18) of Thoubal Khunou was rushed to Raj Medicity, he succumbed to the injuries.

Police were only trying to protect people's lives and properties but some people have been circulating false information regarding the incident, Jogeshchandra said.

If anyone has doubt about the encounter, police headquarters may be approached to start proceedings to hand over the case to an independent agency like CBI/NIA, he said.

On the demand for enquiry into the death of Laishram Prem, the DIG (Range-2) said that such magisterial enquiry does not happen in encounter cases.

Regarding the demand for release of the arrested persons, Jogeshchandra clarified that it is purely the domain of Court and police have no say on the matter.

He said that the UG cadres came from Kakching Khunou for extortion in Salungpham area and as such they were not acting as village volunteers but as UGs doing extortion, and it was the UGs who fired at Thoubal commando teams.

As for the deceased boy, he has not attended school since June and his family lodged a missing report with effect from August 13, 2024.He had joined PREPAK and was staying in Kakching Khunou, Jogeshchandra added.

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