Foul play alleged in Keishamthong killing; Cops scalp three in separate incidents
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 29: Two suspected KCP cadres and another have been shot dead by police commandos in three different incidents today.

While nothing has been said about the killings of the KCP suspects, the elimination of the third has thrown up contradictory claims, with the police furnishing a story, which has been strongly refuted by family members and local people.

Wife of the deceased Utamkumar faints while family members and local people try to revive her by spraying water

At about 3.30 pm today, a 35 year old man was shot dead by police commandos in civvies within his residential complex at Keishamthong Longjam Leirak.

The deceased is identified as Longjam Utamkumar son of L Santi.

According to information received from family members and local people, Utamkumar was a sales executive at Modi Xerox, located opposite to Tiddim Service Station.

His first wife expired leaving behind a 12 year old daughter.

He married a second wife just about five months back.

Utamkumar was coming back home at about 3.30 pm on his NV Scooter (MN1H/4932).As he was parking his scooter in the courtyard, four commandos in civvies came on two Honda Activas and shot at Utamkumar.

Hit by a bullet, Utamkumar ran but dropped down just beside the house of his uncle L Gyanendro.

One commando personnel with short arm chased Utamkumar up to that spot where he had fallen down.

Then the commando personnel turned the barrel of his gun towards Gyanendro who came out on hearing the gun shots.

As the uncle shouted that he had just come out on hearing the shots, the commando personnel fired two rounds in the air and left the place after dropping the gun near the body of Utamkumar, the family members alleged.

Moments after the commando personnel in civvies left the place, commandos in uniform arrived.

On seeing the commandos in uniform, Utamkumar's 12 year old daughter Bidyarani appealed to the commandos to chase the killers of her father thinking that the killers were UG cadres.

However, police claimed that a country made pistol and Rs 1,60,280 in cash were recovered from Utamkumar.

Police have picked up the corpse and deposited it at RIMS morgue.

Earlier a suspected cadre of the proscribed KCP (MC) was shot dead by Imphal West commandos at an alley beside the White Palace hotel, Thangal Bazar at about 1.15 pm today.

According to information received from police, when some commando personnel, acting on a specific tip off about the presence of UG cadres in Thangal Bazar, were frisking passers by, a youth was seen moving in a suspicious manner.

On seeing the commandos, the youth ran towards the alley.

Even as the commandos shouted to halt, the youth reportedly drew out a hand grenade and attempted to hurl it.

However he was shot dead by the commandos before he could hurl the grenade.

One HE-36 hand grenade and a driving licence was recovered from the possession of the slain man.

According to the licence, the deceased was one Irom Saratchandra s/o late Jugeshwar of Nambol Khabi Awang Leikai.

The word "NV (MN1J-3613)" was also found written on the licence.

The photograph attached to the licence resembles the deceased youth.

One NV scooter of dirty white colour reportedly driven by the deceased was also recovered from the Dharamsala road.

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

Three bullets which hit the youth on the chest and abdomen exited through.

Another bullet hit him on the left wrist.

In the second incident, a suspected cadre of KCP (City Meitei) was shot dead by Thoubal police commandos at Charangpat Mayai Leikai under Thoubal police station at about 12.45 pm today.

Police sources informed that one .32 pistol and a magazine with three live were recovered from the slain cadre.

The corpse has been deposited at RIMS morgue.