Imphal, May 02 2009: In separate incident of violence over the last 48 hours, a married woman was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at her own house while security forces gunned down seven suspected UGs during encounters.

Twenty-six year old Aheibam Ongbi Rameshori Devi alias Bembem w/o Aheibam Zee alias Nanao of Iroisemba Maning Leikai under Lamphel Police Station of Imphal West District was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen at her own house at around 9 pm yesterday.

According to information received by the press, the killing took place while her husband had gone out along with their 6year old daughter to buy household items from a nearby shop.

Zee informed that when he returned from the shop along with his daughter he saw two persons coming out from behind their house and fleeing towards Iroisemba Chingjin Road (Zoo Road).

Just before that he had heard one gunshot.

Rameshori was hit by a bullet on her left cheek.

She was rushed to RIMS Hospital but declared brought death.

The body is still lying at the mortuary of the hospital though the post-mortem had been conducted.

It is said that around four months back, three unidentified persons had come to the house warning the couple of dire consequences if they do not stop peddling drug.

Zee clarified that though he is drug abuser, had never indulged in peddling.

Zee further disclosed that he had been jailed earlier in 2002 on alleged charge of being a sympathiser of the KYKL outfit.

On the other hand, a combined force of Thoubal District Police Commandos and personnel of 21 Assam Rifles gunned down a suspected underground activist during a reported encounter along Kakching Uya Road under Kakching police station at around 11 pm yesterday.

The combined force claimed that one 9 mm pistol loaded with three live rounds have been recovered from possession of the slain UG suspect whose body has been picked up and kept at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital.

Although identity of the slain person suspect is yet to be confirmed officially, information received here said that he may be one Thounaojam Surjit alias Thambou (22) s/o Khomei of Langmeidong Mamang Leikai.

A statement issued by SSP of Thoubal District, Clay Khongsai in connection with the incident said the encounter broke out while the combined force was laying in wait on receipt of specific information about the movement of UG cadres in and around Kakching area.

At around 11 pm, the combined force noticed three unidentified persons moving about suspiciously along Kakching Makha Leikai Uya Road.

When shouted to stop for verification, the unidentified persons started opening fire at the combined force.

In the retaliatory firing, the combined force killed one of them while the others managed to flee under cover of darkness.

In another encounter at around 7.10 pm yesterday at Keirao Makhapat Takhok Palli Kachin under Irilbung PS, a combined force of Imphal East police commandos and 28 Assam Rifles killed one suspected under-ground activist.

The slain UG suspect has been identified as Md Azaruddin (24) s/o Jalaludin of Keirao Makting Makha Leikai.

The combined force claimed to have recovered one point 32 pistol and two live rounds of ammunition from his possession.

The post-mortem of the body has been conducted at RIMS today.

Meanwhile, Md Khamba (27) elder brother of Azaruddin has been reportedly admitted to Shija Hospital after being shot on his right calf by unidentified gunmen not far from their house at around 9 am yesterday.

Troopers of 31 Assam Rifles also reportedly shot dead a suspected underground activist during an encounter which broke out near Govajang village located along Indo Myanmar border, around 3 kms to the north-west of Moreh Police Station in Chandel district on April 30 .

In connection with the incident, PRO Assam Rifles, in a statement informed that based on specific information regarding movement of militants from their camp towards Imphal, troops of 31 Assam of 26 Sector under HQ IGAR) launched operation in general area of Govajang on March 30 .

At around 10.30 pm, an individual was traced moving suspiciously.

On being challenged to stop, the individual tried to flee while lobbing a grenade.

The troops immediately retaliated and eliminated the militant.

One 40 mm lathode, 2 live rounds of 40 mm lathode and 2 fired cases of 40 mm lathode were recovered from the lain UG cadre, the PRO said, adding that the dead body alongwith recovered items were handed over to Moreh Police Station.

Meanwhile, the body has been brought and deposited at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital.

Six hours earlier to the Govajang encounter, troopers of 29 Assam Rifles also killed another UG suspect at Goumi village located around 60 kms to the north-east of Tengnoupal Police Station in Chandel district.

One 9 mm pistol loaded with three live rounds of ammunition have been reportedly recovered from the possession of the slain UG suspect whose body has been picked up and deposited at the mortuary of RIMS here for identification and post-mortem.

In the latest incident of encounters which took place today, a combined force of Thoubal Police Commandos and personnel of 20 Assam Rifles gunned down one more UG suspect along Langol-Minou Road bordering Thoubal and Chandel district at around 2.45 pm while Senapati Police killed another UG suspect at Changoubung along NH-39 at around 2.30 pm.

In connection with the Langol-Minou incident a statement issued by SSP of Thoubal District Clay Khongsai said that the encounter broke out while the combined force was launching an operation following specific information about the presence of armed UG activists in the area.

While the operation was underway, the combined force saw a Maruti van coming along the road suspiciously and stopped it for checking and verification of the occupants.

However, the armed occupants numbering around 2 to 3 started opening fire and tried to escape into the nearby jungle.

The combined force also retaliated the firing and managed to kill one of them but the rest slipped away inside the jungle.

Further search of the encounter site led to the recovery of one M-16 Rifles, one magazine loaded with 10 live rounds of ammunition, one Kenwood Radio set, two Chinese hand grenades and the Maruti Van bearing registration no.MN-04A/0566 in which the UG suspects have come, the statement of the SSP added.

According to police report on the Changoubung encounter, personnel of Senapati District Police were rushing into the area following information about extortion activities of armed UGs when they from were fired upon by three armed persons.

In the retaliatory action of the police, one armed person was killed while the rest managed to escape.

One 9 mm pistol and six live rounds of ammunition have been recovered from the possession of the slain UG. On the other hand, PIB Defence Wing in a statement claimed that one suspected UG was killed during a successful operation launched by troops of Red Shield Division at Khundong in Tamenglong district.

In a statement, PRO Defence Wing said that based on inputs regarding the presence of armed UGs carrying out intimidation of locals in area of Khundong village, a well-planned operation was launched by troops based at Tamei resulting in killing of one suspected UG cadre and recovery of large quantity of arms and ammunition.

In the meanwhile, clashes broke out between armed cadres of two Kuki UG groups along IT Road near Kangpokpi Bazar this afternoon causing panic among the people. According to information received by the press, sound of gun-fighting was continued to be heard from the interior part of IT Road even late into the afternoon.

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