Imphal, May 06: Following an understanding reached between the 14 Assam Rifles authority and Saitu Village authorities yesterday, tension has subsided considerably and normalcy is slowing returning to Saitu village once again after three women including a mother and her child were gunned down by 14 Assam Rifles troops yesterday morning.

Mention may be made here that six AR personnel in civvies had come to Saitu village yesterday morning and resorted to indiscriminate firing resulting in the death of the three civilians.

Meanwhile, post mortem was conducted on the three victims at RIMS morgue today.

The three victims are Zhingkhoneng Haokip, Hoineichang and Lamneithem Haokip.

Elaborating on the details of the agreement reached between the Assam Rifles and the Village authorities, Chungkham Haokip chairman of Kuki Inpi Manipur (Sadar Hills) said that the settlement was reached at around 7 pm yesterday evening after the commandant of 14 AR Govinder Singh Bedi paid monetary compensation of Rs 1.5 lakhs and customary fines to the victim's families.

The CO also assured the irate villagers to punish the guilty jawan according to the law of the land, he added.

With unbridled powers being given to the security forces by the AFSPA, security forces are terrorising innocent civilians without any reason and therefore this repressive Act must be repealed immediately, he said.

Food and Civil Supply Minister Ngamthang Haokip, who visited RIMS morgue today strongly condemned the killing and termed it as a senseless act.

Recalling the incident where three youths were gunned down by Central security forces at the same village a few months back, Haokip who also hails from the village of the three victims said that the culprits should be booked and punished according to the law.

Sapermeina police have registered an FIR in connection with the incident.

OC of the station said that the case was registered on receiving complaints filed by the Assam Rifles.

No complaint was lodged by the victims' families, he added.

Meanwhile the army, giving its version of the incident said the three civilians were killed in a cross fire between 14 Assam Rifles troops and well armed militants at Saitu Village under Saparmeina PS yesterday morning.

Elaborating on the encounter, PIB in a statement said that 14 AR troops rushed to Saitu Village yesterday morning after receiving specific information that some well armed militants were holed up in the area.

On approaching the village, the militants opened fire forcing the security personnel to retaliate.

Unable to bear the onslaught of the AR troops, the militants withdrew into the village and ran towards the jungle firing all the way thereby resulting in the death of the three civilians, added the statement.

The AR troops recovered 80 fired cases from the encounter site.

Following the incident, a meeting was convened and agreement signed between 14 AR and village, authorities in the presence of N Haokip Minister for Forest, Science and technology arid P Haokip ex MP whereby both the sides agreed that the three civilians were killed in cross fire.

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