Imphal, June 19: The Imphal East commander of the proscribed KYKL and a civilian were killed in a fierce gun fight with cadres of the KCP (MC) last night at at Chingnungkhok Maning Leikai under Lamlai police station.

During the shoot-out which lasted from 7 pm till 8 pm, one hardcore cadre of the proscribed KYKL and a civilian were killed, informed a police source.

Police recovered a magazine of a pistol along with 12 live rounds from the encounter site.

According to information received from the spot, the shoot out was between cadres of the KYKL and the KCP (MC).

At about 7.40 last night, around 20 rounds of shots were exchanged between the two groups.

Disclosing that KCP (MC) cadres were present in the area, the local people informed that the encounter might have ensued when KYKL cadres moved into the area.

Those killed in the gun fight have been identified as Sarangthem Nilamani (51) s/o late Ahanjao of Chingnungkhok Mayai Leikai and Chungkham Roshan alias Abungcha (22) s/o Shanti of Sawombung Thongkhong.

According to sources, Roshan joined the KYKL some years back and was commander of Imphal East district before his death.

The corpse of Roshan has been handed over to family members after post mortem at RIMS but the corpse of Nilamani remains unclaimed at RIMS mortuary.

Strongly contending that Nilamani was an innocent civilian, the local people of Chingnungkhok have constituted a Joint Action Committee.

Subsequently, they came to meet Chief Minister O Ibobi this afternoon but they were blocked by police at Palace Compound.

However, the JAC representatives were allowed to submit a memorandum to Chief Minister in-charge Th Debendra.

The main demands of the memorandum are compensation of Rs 5 lakhs to the bereaved family, provision of a suitable job to a member of Nilamani's family and fitting punishment to all those involved in the incident.

Following assurance of the CM in-charge that the demands will be fulfilled, the JAC would be claiming the corpse of Nilamani tomorrow, conveyed JAC secretary Haorungbam Kanta.

Nilamani is survived by his wife Inakkhunbi (40), three daughters and a son.

Further the JAC has resolved to ban entry of all UG cadres in Chingnungkhok area in case the concerned UG groups fail to come up with the faults of Nilamani within three days, Kanta added.

Meanwhille the KCP (MC) has claimed that its cadres were involved in the shoot out in which the KYKL cadre was killed.

In a statement, Lanheiba Meitei of the outfit claimed that the KYKL cadres came to the village and started beating up some villagers on the ground that they had given shelter to the MC men.

A 45 year old man Salangthem Nilamani Singh was severely beaten up by the KYKL cadres, charged KCP (MC).

After the gun fight, the KCP (MC) cadres came across the KYKL cadre critically wounded.

Despite all efforts to save him he passed away due to excessive bleeding, said the the statement and added that even though the KYKL cadres had attacked them, the KCP (MC) cadres treated the wounded man as a casualty of battle and tried to save him.

Later a civilian was also found killed at the site of the encounter.

The outfit went on to say that targeting civilians on the ground that they had given shelter or support to the KCP (MC) is anti-revolutionary and warned that it would also strike out at members of the frontal organisations of the KYKL and UNLF.

Members of the frontal organisations and over ground workers of KYKL and UNLF should contact the KCP (MC) to co-operate, said Lanheiba and warned that those refusing to do so would be targeted.

The outfit also said that it was constrained to eliminate Maibam Khomdol Singh alias Lukhoi of Yumnam Patlou as he was extorting money in the name of the KCP (MC).

Lanheiba further said that the restrictions imposed on RIMS Director and Superintendent still stands and added that its drive to cleanse RIMS and Social Welfare Department from corruption will intensify.

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