Five non-local men killed at Khordak
Locals flee village for fear of reprisal by security force
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 11 2009: AT LEAST five non-local men were brutally killed by suspected underground insurgents at Khordak Awang Leikai within the area of Keibul Lamjao National Park under Kumbi Police Station where Army authority had earlier claimed to have sanitised underground presence after the "Operation Summer Storm".

The killing of non-locals took place nearly a month after the Army authority had announced that the villagers could lead a peaceful life without fear of underground interference.

The Army had claimed that the area had been cleared of insurgents during the 10-day "Operation Summer Storm".

Fearing that the security forces will once again enter their villages to launch operation, most of the villagers of Khordak area had begun fleeing their homes for safer places nearby from this afternoon.

Villagers fleeing homes at Khordak Awang Leikai

Even though unconfirmed reports reached the press saying that as many as nine persons from outside the state were killed, reporters who rushed to the area came across only five dead bodies lying in the Loktak lake areas between Moirang and Kumbi police stations.

Other bodies could not be found as dusk approached and it would not be convenient venturing further into the lake area after sunset.

The place where the dead bodies were recovered is located about six kms from Kumbi Police Station, and some 300 meters toward the lake side from Khordak Awang Leikai amidst reeds and bushes.

All the dead bodies wore civil dress.

Unlike in the past, the bodies did not look like civilian migrant labourers from outside the state.

Four of the five slain men were found wearing jeans trousers while the other one was found wearing only inner wear.

A pair of jeans trousers apparently belonging to him was also found near him.

Marks of injury caused by sharp weapons other than bullets were seen on some of the bodies.

One dead body was found some 50 meters away from the spot where four dead bodies were recovered.

Marks of bullets injuries were found on his head and chest.

Ground sources said that they saw some armed persons herding more than 10 non-local men with their hands tied behind their backs near the village on foot.

They could not tell from where the armed persons brought the non-locals.

But they could hear sounds of gun shots after a short while.

The ground sources said they did not know where the killing took place when reporters asked.

A group of reporters searched for the dead bodies for nearly one and a half hours in the lake area concentrating on the place where the villagers pointed towards the direction of hearing the sound of gun shots.

After the reporters informed of finding the dead bodies,villagers started leaving their homes.

No villager staying at the Khordak Awang Leikai at the time when reporters left the place.

Reporters come out of the place at around 6 pm considering the difficulties which could be face while staying there further.

While leaving the place, a strong police force under the supervision of the Bishnupur SP, Jayenta arrived there.

They retrieved only four dead bodies as they could not conduct further search operation at dusk.

Identities of the dead bodies could not be established for the time being.

However, villagers expressed doubt that they could AR personnel or related with them.

Since the end of the Loktak operation, non-locals are not seen at the place, they said adding today's incident is the first time.

However, PRO, PIB (Defense wing) said that any of them related with the Assam Rifles operating in the area.

It is remour to say they were AR personnel.

Any of the underground groups operating in the state so far claim the brutal killing of the non-locals.