Imphal, July 05 2009: Security forces have gunned down three suspected underground activists at different places in the past 48 hours.

the slain persons include two PLA and one UNLF cadre, as per statements issued by police and Assam Rifles authorities.

A police report said that two UG suspects were killed in an encounter with troops of 29 Assam Rifles at Kambang Khunou village, which is about 25 kilometres north-east from Tengnoupal police station in Chandel district.

The kambang Khunou shoot-out reportedly ensued at about 4.15 pm yesterday as troops of the AR unit launched search operations following another encounter at Ril Ram Centre of the district earlier in the morning during which two UG suspects were also slain.

The AR troops handed over 11 fired cases to Tengnoupal police station as recoveries made from the possession of the two slain persons in the Kambang Khunou shoot-out.

It may be mentioned that a police report had enlisted one AK series rifle, one magazine, five rounds and sten Carbine as the items handed over by the AR troops from the two persons gunned down in the Ril Ram Centre incident.

All the four corpses have been brought to RIMS morgue for identification and other related procedures.

Meanwhile, a PRO IGAR (S) statement issued today, said one 9 mm pistol with two magazines, 15 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, 11 fired cartridges of M-16 and AK-47 rifles, six fired shells of Lathode, two detonators, same number of 12 V battery, 15 AK-47 ammunition, 10 hand-grenades and two IEDs were recovered during search of Ril Ram Centre village where the encounters took place.

Bodies of the slain persons along with the recovered items have been handed over to Imphal West police station at 8 am on July 5, the PRO added.

Regarding the incidents, the PRO said "following the successful operation on the morning of July 4 in which two UGs of PLA were gunned down, troops of 29 Assam Rifles of 26 Sector under HQ IGAR (South) launched search operations in general area of Ril Ram Centre.

"During the search of ril Ram Centre village, militants hurled hand grenades and carried out indiscriminate fire at own troops.

However, own troops responded immediately and brought down accurate fire on the UGs resulting in elimination of two more militant cadres," the PRO maintained and enlisted the items which were recovered and subsequently handed over to the Imphal West police station.

The third victim, a suspected UNLF cadre, was gunned down by a combined team of Thoubal district police commando and 34 Assam Rifles at Thoubal Wangma-taba area today.

A statement issued by the Additional SP (Thoubal) Jogeschandra Haobijam said, the joint security team launched cordon and search operation on being informed about presence of UG suspects in the general area of Thoubal Wangmataba and Kabrang village.

At around 5.20 am when the security force personnel were encircling Thoubal Wangmataba some 2-3 unidentified persons were observed trying to sneak away towards the Kabrang village road.

On being asked to stop for verification of identity, the security team came under fire from sophisticated weapons resulting in a brief gun-fight for about 15 minutes.

During the encounter one person got found killed while the other accomplices managed to flee towards the nearby hill range, the Additional SP informed while adding that search of the encounter site led to the recovery of a foreign-made pistol, one magazine, three rounds of 7.62 ammunition, one Chinese hand-grenade and a 30-page receipt book inscribed 'UNLF Nungaiba Phongdokpa' from the possession of the deceased person.

Sources said the victim is one Khoirom Ratankumar (30) s/o Irabot of Moidangpok Awang Leikai.

Ratankumar reportedly left home some 12 years back and was an important member/cadre of the proscribed UNLF organisation.

On the otherhand, identity of the person slain by troops of 4/8 Gorkha Rifles and Bishnupur district police commandos at Nachou area of Bishnupur district on July 1 night has been established as one Khaidem Apu alias Nanao (23) s/o Kh Kumar of Leimakhong Chingmang.

Meanwhile, one KCP (MC) cadre namely Koijam Herachandra alias Achouba alias Paree (50) s/o (L) Yaima Meitei of Bashikhong Torban has been arrested by a team of Imphal East district police commando from New Checkon area yesterday morning.

A statement issued by SP (IE) Th Radheshyam said, one mobile phone set with two sim cards and driving licence were recovered from Herachandra who reportedly disclosed of joining the KCP (MC) organisation last year through one Lamyanba Khuman.

Herachandra had collected/extorted a sum of Rs 1.5 lakh from Imphal East-II Block in march this year and another amount of Rs 2 lakh in May, 2009 in the name of KCP (MC) for raising party fund, the SP maintained.

The captive also disclosed of his involvement in extortion of money from the general public, Govt officials, Pradhans etc., of Imphal East Block-II by using two mobile sim bearing Nos 9615502585 and 985664496 during the extortion, Radheshyam added.

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