Imphal, July 11: With the elimination of five persons in separate shoot-outs with security forces in the past 24 hours and one body still awaiting identification/disposal RIMS morgue has been literally filled beyond capacity even as eight militants have been rounded up from different places.

The freezer at the morgue is informed to be capable of accommodating only five corpses at a time.

At least five suspected underground activists have been confirmed dead after shoot-outs with security forces in Imphal East and Thoubal district areas today.

At Imphal East district's Sanjenbam village which is under the jurisdiction of Lamlai police station two persons suspected to be Kuki Liberation Army activists were gunned down by a combined team of Imphal East district police commandos and 115 Bn BSF.

After an encounter that reportedly ensued from around 2.30 pm, one .36 High Explosive hand-grenade, a 9 mm pistol with three live rounds, an LML NV scooter (MN1J/7880) and demand notes of the KLA have been recovered from the possession of the deceased duo.

The demand notes bore the signature of one Stephen Kuki and were addressed to the Divisional Forest Officers of Tamenglong and Senapati districts insisting on percentage cut of Rs 2 lakh each from the bamboo plantation project funds.

As per report received from the police, the combined team based on specific information headed towards Sanjenbam village this afternoon and observed two individuals coming on the scooter at the nearby hill slope.

As the security forces proceeded towards the two, one among them, opened fire but both got killed in retaliatory action, the police source said while adding that moments after the shoot-out other persons likely to be accomplices of the deceased duo fled.

The other shoot-out occurred at Kairang Maning leikai under heingang police station at around 2.10 pm during which a suspected KRA (U) activist was slain by commandos of Imphal East district police.

One .36 hand grenade has been recovered from the deceased who, according to sources is likely to be one Wangkhem Pritam (23) s/o W Ibomcha of Kairang Maning Leikai.

At Wangbal in Thoubal district, police commandos gunned down one person at around 12.45 from whom a revolver and three live rounds have been recovered.

A statement issued by the SP (Thoubal) Clay Khongsai in connection with the shoot-out detailed that upon getting specific information of KCP (MC) activists indulging in extortion activities at Wangbal and Khangabok areas Thoubal police commandos were deployed for patrolling and frisking duty at Wangbal during which an individual was observed moving suspiciously along the Wangbal-Khangabok road.

With the youth not heeding the police signal to halt and instead fleeing towards the by-lane of Agri Office, Wangbal amid sporadic firing, the commandos retaliated slaying the individual, the statement maintained and confirmed recovery of the small arm and live rounds.

At Thoubal Khunou an encounter reportedly ensued between SF and armed persons at around 11.25 pm yesterday during which one was killed while another escaped.

Thoubal district police commandos and 34 AR were involved in the elimination of the suspected UG from whom one Chinese hand-grenade, a Kenwood radio set, Nokia handset, one Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle (MN1N/6846) with vehicle documents and Rs 600 had been recovered.

The SP (Thoubal) said the combined security team was deployed at strategic locations on being informed of presence of KYKL activists at Thoubal Khunou area.

Upon observing a motorcycle coming towards them, the security team signalled for stopping but to no avail as the pillion rider opened fire from a small arm.

After a brief shoot-out the motorists abandoned the vehicle and ran towards the nearby hill-locks but one got killed instantly and the other managed to flee, Clay Khongsai added.

All the bodies have been deposited at RIMS morgue.

meanwhile, Thoubal police commandos netted one Md Sahabuddin alias Abung (35) s/o (L) Md Fazur of Kwakta Khunou from Lilong Tairen Makhong at around 4 pm yesterday and recovered one 9 mm pistol with magazine and three live rounds.

Acting on specific information, a team of Thoubal police commandos conducted search operations in the specified location and apprehended one gang member, the SP elaborated on the incident.

According to our Jiribam correspondent Jacob Pamei, troops of 5 Assam Rifles apprehended five activists of PREPAK organisation from near Babupara petrol pump in Jiribam sub-division at around 10.30 pm yesterday.

The arrestees have ben identified as S Yaiskul alias Ukaku (32) s/o Raghumani of Singjamei Thongam Leikai, N Ratan (26) s/o (L) Ibohanbi of Khurai Ningthoubung, Laishram Meghajit alias Tolen s/o (L) L Jugeshore of Dibong Mayai Leikai (Jiribam), N Jitendra (37) s/o (L) N Muhindro of Kongpal Khaidem Leikai and N Jugindro (58) s/o (L) Mohon also from Kongpal Khaidem Leikai.

One toy gun and a knife had been recovered from the five who were handed over to police.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Senior SP (Imphal West) L Kailun informed of two UG activists arrested by district police commandos last night.

One KYKL activist identified as Pheiroijam Joysana Singh alias Kori (26) s/o Ph Tolcha Singh of Kongpal Kongkham Leikai was hauled up from his own locality at around 9 pm.

Joysana reportedly joined the KYKL organisation in June 2007 through one Amudon alias Ibungo (27) of Keibi Taretkhul bus parking and worked under the latter's command.

The other arrestee, hauled up from the inter-village road of Kongpal Khaidem Leikai at around 9.30 pm yesterday is said to be a PREPAK activist identified as Laikhuram Priyobarta Singh alias Nanao (24) s/o L Shamungou Singh of Kongpal Khaidem Leikai.

Priyobarta joined the banned outfit in October 2003 through one Lucky Singh of Khurai Konsam Leikai, Sr SP added.

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