Imphal, August 19: A suspected PREPAK cadre has been killed when activists of the banned outfit launched an attack at the Kumbi post of the 7 Assam Rifles late night yesterday.

The AR post is located at Kumbi Setupur Mayai Leikai along the Haotak road about one kilometre west of Kumbi police station.

Confirming the incident, PIB (DW) in a statement said one unidentified militant was killed when troops of 57 Mountain Division deployed at Kumbi post responded to the fire on their post.

Conveying that alert troops of the 7 AR immediately retaliated and returned fire with extreme caution, the PIB statement maintained that during follow-up search the troops recovered a body along with lethal ammunition like three rounds of RPG from the site.

Blood stains at the site from where the attack was launched indicate involvement of more number of militants in the incident and injuries suffered by them.

Incensed with the firing at populated area people of Kumbi Setupur and nearby villages today staged a sit-in-protest at the Kumbi setupur Village Community Hall and highlighting fear psychosis created by the incident fervently appealed to all concerned to desist from such acts in the future in residential areas.

According to police sources, suspected PREPAK cadres launched the attack from about a distance of half a kilometre mostly from the post's northern side using lathode gun, RPGs and AK series rifles resulting in a fierce encounter for about half an hour from around 10.50 pm.

A search of the surrounding area by the AR troops in the early hours today is said to have led to the discovery of a corpse about 500 metres from the post with signs of bomb blast wounds all-over the body.

Identity of the deceased has been confirmed as one Sorensangbam Ibungo alias Romesh (23) s/o Dinamani alias Tenden of Kakwa Naorem Leikai, whom police strongly suspect to be cadre of the outlawed PREPAK.

Items recovered during the searches included two RPG shells, one missed shell, two live RPG cartridges, one bi-pod, its tail unit, two copies of local newspaper used in wrapping the shells, 20 empty cases of AK ammunition and a mobile phone handset (Nokia) with a spare battery.

As wheel tracks could be observed at the place from where the body was found, the police sources also speculated that the attackers might have come and left in motor vehicle.

In addition to the victim's left hand severed from the wrist area and facial parts badly blown off several bomb splinter wounds could be observed which police experts opined that accidental RPG shell blast might have claimed the 23 year old whose body has been handed over to family members after post mortem examination at RIMS morgue.

Body of the individual gunned down by a combined team of Imphal East police commandos and troops of 32 Assam Rifles on August 14 night at Kongba area has also been identified and claimed by family members today.

The deceased is said to be one Md Islamuddin (35) s/o Nurjaman from Kwakta Khunman Awang Leikai but was staying at a rented quarter in Golapati.

According to his wife Ibem alias Fariza (32) Islamuddin was a daily wage earner and had left home on August 12 evening along with his friend.

The friend identified as Raj from Lilong is said to be a personnel of the 32 Assam Rifles.

Meanwhile, police bomb experts retrieved a Chinese made hand-grenade from Wangoi Bazar and safely exploded the same at a nearby Imphal river bank today.

The explosive device was detected at around 8 am as shop-owners were about to begin their chores.

Soon after receiving information about the bomb personnel of 12 Maratha LI and Wangoi police arrived at the location and cordoned off the area.

The grenade was found placed in between a grocery shop and pharmaceutical outlet.

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