Imphal, April 06 2009: In separate shoot outs today, security personnel have killed two underground activists including a suspected leader of the proscribed KCP (MC) .

According to police report, a combined force of 7 Assam Rifles and 3 Assam Rifles shot dead a suspected leader of KCP (MC) during a shoot out that broke out near Leishang village, located 6 kms to the north of Churachandpur Police Station at around 4.30 am today.

Though the identity of the slain KCP (MC) leader has not yet been established, one 9 mm pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition have been recovered from his possession.

PRO Defence Wing, however, said that that the slain is suspected to be the Churachandpur district commander of thebanned outfit.

In connection with the shoot out incident, the PRO in a statement said that combined team of 3 Assam Rifles and 7 Assam Rifles under 57 Mountain Division launched a well coordinated operation following confirmed report of the UG activist hilding in a house.

After cordoning off the specified locality, the column commenced search of the area in the wee hours.

While entering the house, the UG activist fired upon the troops and attempted to escape under cover of darkness.

The troops retaliated quickly while keeping safety aspect of the civilin in mind and eliminated the UG activist.

No damage was caused to the lives or propertues of the locals and no casulty was suffered by the secuity forces.

The lain militant reportedly belongs to Moirang area of Bishnupur district an was in-charge of KCP (MC) outfit Lanheiba faction operating against security forces and civlians in Churachandpur and Bishnupur district, the PRO said, adding hat the slain militant was also involved in placing extortion demands to businessmen in Kwakta and Tuibong area and reportedly collected Rs 1.7 lakhs from numerous businessmen in the last three to four months.

It is believed that the militant had come to Churachandpur town to escape from the joint operation of Manipur Police Commandos and Army operation in Moirang area and took shelter in a house, the PRO said, claiming that this is a major blow to KCP (MC) which was planning to disrupt the forthcoming Lok Sabha election.

The body has been picked up and kept at Churachandpur District Hospital, the police report said.

In the second encounter which took place at around 2.35 am along the road of Salan Konjin Watha also known as Sagolpat under Kumbi Police Station in Bishnupur district, personnel of 7 Assam Rifles killed another UG suspect.

The slain UG suspect has been identified as Mairembam Kishan (26) s/o Ibopishak of Moirang Khunou Maning.

However, the family members claimed that Kishan was an innocent construction worker and he had left home to go to Imphal in connection with construction of a house some 10 days back.

Nonetheless, the police report said that one 7.654 mm pistol located with seven rounds of ammunition were recovered from his possession.

The body has handed over to the family members after post-mortem examination at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital, the police report added.

Meanwhile, the identity of the UG suspect reportedly killed by a combined force of Bishnupur Police Commandos and personnel of 4/8 GR during an encounter at Yangoipat in Bishnupur district on the night of April 4 has been established as one Sorokhaibam Brojendro alias Abotombi (27) s/o Priyokumar of Singjamei Chingamakha Phuramakhong.

According to family members, Brojendro had been called out from home on March 29 by one Loli of Chanam Pukhri Mapal, who was surrendered to the Army.

Though Brojendro was a former activist of RPF, he had been retired and staying at home for the last 10 years.

In protest against the killing, local residents staged a Wakat Meepham at Chingamakha today.

On the other hand, the two persons who were shot dead by the Imphal West District Police Commandos during a reported encounter along the road leading to National Games Village, Langol at around 9.45 of the same night (April 4) have been identified as two cousin brothers from Bashikhong.

They were Nameirakpam Nobo (27) s/o Basanta and Nameirakpam Govind alias Tamo alias Dhopa (25) s/o Rome.

According to family members who identified their bodies at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital, both of them have gone out from their respective houses in the evening of last Saturday.

Among the two, Govind was a married man and left behind his wife and a recently born daughter.

Govind had also taken a bicycle along with home when he left the house.

The family members have not yet taken their bodies.

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