Two slain by SF, gunmen; AR slammed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 13 2008: In two separate incidents, one UG suspect has been slain by security forces while a 40 year old man succumbed to injuries after he was shot by unidentified persons today.

One suspected UG cadre has been slain in a reported encounter with a combined force this afternoon.

The reported encounter took place near Awa Ching, between Keirao Khunou and MAASI complex under Irilbung police station.

Womenfolk protest arrest of an Umathel youth by AR troops as a patrol team of the paramilitary force cross the protest venue

According to police sources, the encounter ensued when a combined team of Imphal East commandos and troops of 32 AR moved to the spot at about 2.30 pm on receiving a specific information that some suspected UG cadres have seized truck tippers at Awa Ching.

The combined security team came under heavy gun attack on approaching the spot.

As the combined team retaliated immediately, one UG suspect was killed while two others managed to flee away.

One Spanish made Llama pistol of 9 mm calibre and a magazine containing five live rounds were recovered from the yet to be identified slain individual, added the police source.

Police have picked up the corpse and deposited at RIMS mortuary.

On the other hand, one individual who ran a meat shop at Awang Sekmai New Market has succumbed to injuries after he was shot by unidentified persons at his home tonight.

Maharabam Rajen (40) s/o Nongyai of Awang Sekmai Khunou was shot by the unidentified persons at about 6.30 pm.

He was hit by two bullets on the abdomen.

He succumbed to injuries on the way to RIMS, informed a police source.

AR impeding free movement: Consequent upon shadowing and pulling up of innocent people by Assam Rifles in Umathel area, villagers of the area are unable to move and attend to their chores freely.

This was stated by a Meira Paibi leader on the sideline of a protest sitting staged at Umathel market today against arrest of an innocent youth from Umathel Makha Leikai by troops of 21 AR posted at Pangaltabi in Thoubal district.

In the aftermath of the ambush undertaken by UG cadres against an AR team in October 2007 in which one AR personnel was killed, AR personnel thrashed the villagers of Umathel including many women in the most brutal manner, she recalled.

After that, there was a respite from the AR excesses for sometime in Umathel area.

But most recently, troops of 21 AR have been shadowing innocent youths and have been arresting them.

Asserting that troops of 21 AR still view all the villagers of Umathel as UG cadres or their sympathisers, the Meira Paibi leader asked the AR unit to arrest all the villagers, if they (AR troops) wish so.

21 AR arrested one Khumukcham Bimolchand (25) s/o Shyam of Umathel Makha Leikai from his locality yesterday afternoon.

In the evening, Bimolchand was handed over to Kakching police station with the charge of being a KYKL cadre.

But Bimolchand is an innocent youth augmenting family income by doing private tuition at his home, she contended.

He was apprehended by AR troops when he was returning home on a bicycle after talking about private tuition for students preparing to admit in JNV Thoubal.

Three days back, another innocent youth from Kakching Khunou was also pulled up by 21 AR, she conveyed.

Students and villagers of Umathel staged a protest against the arrest today.

Incidentally, a patrolling team of AR passed by the protest venue.

On seeing the AR troops, womenfolk made an outcry demanding release of their arrested sons.