Imphal, April 29 2009: A COMBINED force of the Imphal West district police commandos and 12 Maratha Light Infantry gunned down three suspected underground insurgents in an alleged encounter at Tarahei Konjil Awang Leikai in Imphal West district this evening.

The incident occurred around 3.20 pm under Wangoi Police Station.

Police recovered one AK-56 rifle with 12 rounds, one M-20 pistol with three rounds, two Chinese hand-grenades and Rs.2,695/ in cash from the three deceased.

The deceased persons are yet to be identified.

One driving license recovered from one of the three bodies mentioned the name of one Lourembam Yaiphaba, son of L Tomba of Leingangpokpi, Jiri in Imphal East district.

The appearance of the man from whose person the license was recovered resembled the photograph on the license indicating that the deceased could be the same person.

In the meanwhile, a press release issued this evening by Senior Superintendent of Police, Imphal West district, L Kailun stated that a driving license found from one of the deceased persons was issued in the name of one Kshetrimayum Sanjit, son of Jiten of Kakwa Naorem Leikai.

Police said, on receiving a specific information about the presence of some cadres of the United People's Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) at Tarahei Konjil, Heibok Cheeng, a combined team of Imphal West district police commando under the command of Imphal West commando OC, Inspector Th Krishnatombi along with a column of 12 Maratha Light Infantry led by Major PK Singh and Lt Vikram Singh rushed to the spot to conduct an operation.

As the combined team reached near the quarters of water supply scheme at Tarahei Konjil Awang Leikai, Heibok Cheeng, some unidentified underground activists started firing shots at the security personnel.

The personnel of the combined security force immediately took position and retaliated, a gun fight ensued for about 10 minutes, police said.

After about 10 minutes, the firing from the UGs' side fell silent and the combined security personnel launched a search operation and found three dead bodies near the quarter of the water supply, police informed and added that the deceased youths could be members of UPPK.

However, clear identification of the three deceased is yet to be established.

On the other hand, residents of Tarahei Konjil told reporters that there was no incident of encounter in their area.

Some police commandos were seen around that place at about 11 am.

They ordered people around the area to go away and told them not to make their presence known to others, the residents told reporters.

Then a little over 3 pm, another team of police commandos and some Army personnel arrived there.

As soon as they arrived, sounds of gun shots were heard, the residents said and expressed their suspicion that the three persons might have been brought there and killed.

The three dead bodies have been kept at the mortuary of the RIMS for post mortem examination.

Yet another suspected underground was killed tonight around 9.15 in a reported encounter with Imphal West district police commando at a place in Phumlou area under Lamshang police station in Imphal East district.

According to a report, the incident happened when two police vehicle from Imphal and a police commando team attached to the Lamshang Police station went to the spot.

The slain man could not be identified immediately.

However, the dead body has been deposited at the RIMS morgue by the Lamshang police.

A 9mm pistol and some live rounds have been recovered from the suspected UG cadre, the report said.

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