Imphal, December 31 2008: With over 500 people killed in various violent related incidents including shoot-outs between security forces and armed underground activists, killing by unidentified armed persons, in bomb attacks, major road accidents, fire/arson, etc, 2008 would go down in the history of Manipur as the most goriest year.

In 2007, a total of 205 human casualties including 171 UGs, 41 security personnel and 93 civilians have been recorded to have been killed in various violent related incidents.

But this year, 286 UGs have been killed by security personnel in shoot outs, 123 suspected UGs/ civilians by unidentified gunmen, 35 other in clashes between UG groups, 22 people including 18 of the Ragailong blast in bomb explosions while over 40 people in various other crimes.

Even if an official report on the matter could not be received from the State Police Department, this figure on human casualties has been based on the reports published in this paper.

Seizure of arms and ammunition from the possession of the slain UGs in shoot out incidents that have been handed over to the police alone adds up to 205 guns, 73 hand grenades, 4 kgs of RDX, two kgs and five packets of plastic explosives, numerous ammunition and other explosive materials.

Among the arms seized, there were 154 revolvers/pistols, 19 AK Rifles, 13 carbines, 5 lethode guns, 2 each of M-16s, 303 and G-3 Rifles, four SBBL guns and one each of RPG, Mortar launcher, UMG and UBGL.

On the other hand, in the attack of the proscribed KYKL, two CRPF personnel have been killed and one LMG and one INSAS snatched while in the attack of the proscribed UNLF on a post of Assam Rifles along Indo-Myanmar border, one AR personnel had been killed.

Apart from these two incidents, there is no report on killing security personnel in the attack by UGs during the year.

Some of the major incidents that took place during the course of the year are given as below:-
On January 17, 19 persons were killed and many other injured when a Charcoal loaded truck fell into a gorge at Behiyang in Churachandpur district.

In the same month, security forces killed 9 UGs.

In the afternoon of February 18, three persons including two women and a child were charred to death when fire broke out in a house at Thangmeiband Muji Leirak while the Bor Jatra was in progress.

During the same month, 14 UGs have been killed by security forces, 16 UG suspects/civilians by unidentified gunmen and 8 others in the clashes between UG groups.

On March 8, Cobra Task Force of the proscribed PREPAK exploded a bomb inside the Assembly Complex.

On the 18th day of the same month, unidentified gunmen shot down seven migrant labourers at Hayel Hangun.

On the following day, seven more migrant labourers were also killed by unidentified gunmen at four different places.

Consequent to these killings, curfew was imposed in the four valley districts and more particularly in the two Imphal districts.

On March 11, two UG suspects were killed in a bomb explosion.

On March 19, one Havalder was killed when firing broke out among personnel of 7/8 GR at Khawanawai in Churachandpur.

On March 24 (during Yaoshang festival), three youths including two young women were killed while another girl was blinded when armed cadres of proscribed PREPAK opened fire at the site of a Thabalchongba programme in Heirok Part-II Loukon.

When infuriated people of Heirok protested against the killing and raised the demand for providing guns to protect themselves, the State Government responded with the offer of setting up Special Police Officers (SPOs) .

On March 21, two women belonging to Anal community were found shot dead.

On March 31, armed cadres of the proscribed KCP (MC) shot dead EE of PWD Nabachandra at his Utlou residence in front of his own family members.

In the morning of April 24, KCP (MC) exploded a powerful bomb inside the high security zone of Babupara.

Four persons were wounded in the explosion.

In the afternoon of the same day, a bomb was also found fitted on a rickshaw near Mapal Kangjeibung where the then Governor Dr SS Sidhu was to pass though.

Following the two incidents, restriction was imposed on entry of vehicles in the Khwairamband Bazar area of Imphal.

On April 30, five members of a family were charred to death when the house caught on fire at Hayel Hangun.

In the early morning of the same day, the body of a woman suspected to have been killed after being raped was found at Tentha Loushipat.

On May 24, around 39 inmates were injured group clashes that broke out inside Sajiwa Central Jail.

In the same month 10 UGs have been killed by the security forces, 3 persons by unidentified gunmen and 8 UGs in factional clashes.

On June 4, a CRPF jawan was shot dead when firing broke out among the personnel of 86 CRPF at Sinam along National Highway 53 .

One June 9, one civilian was wounded when a bomb exploded near the post of 88 BSF at Wangjing Tekcham.

On June 15, one Meira Paibi leader was killed by unidentified gunmen at Mayang Imphal Komlakhong.

On June 24, out of six migrant workers shot at by unidentified gunmen at three different places, four of them died.

On June 26, 10 persons including a child sustained injuries when Cobra Task Force of the proscribed PREPAK triggered a bomb explosion at the site of a sit-in-protest staged against the mobile phone demands of the outfit.

During the same month, a personnel of 6 Assam Rifles was killed in the bomb attack of UGs.

In the wee hours of July 14, the Kiyamgei Muslim Takhok Mapal residence of Md Ramizuddin who is surrenderee of PULF (MI Khan) faction was burnt down by some unknown persons.

On July 16, a sepoy of the 10 JKLI post at Moltuk in Chandel shot dead an Adjutant.

During the course of the same month, security forces have killed in all 37 UGs.

On August 7, two sepoys were killed and one LMG and one INSAS have been snatched by armed cadres of KYKL after an ambush on a patrolling party of 109 CRPF near Kotlen along National Highway 53.During the same month security forces have killed 20 UGs.

Along with killing in all 40 UGs, September month has recorded that the highest number of UGs killed by security forces in a month.

On September 1, PREPAK-Cobra Task Force attacked the Chief Minister's bungalow at Babupara with bomb.

On September 9, a combined force of Bishnupur Police Commandos and Army personnel of 57 Mountain Division killed five cadres of PREPAK Cobra Task Force, destroyed their hideouts and seized a cache of arms and ammunition during an operation at Ngakrapat in Loktak lake.

On the night of October 19, PREPAK launched yet another attack at the bungalow of the Chief Minister while the entire Police Department was celebrating the Raising Day of the Manipur Police at Ist MR parade ground.

The bomb used in the attack landed near the median of the road running just behind the compound wall of the CM's bungalow.

On the night of October 21, 18 persons were killed when KCP (MC) exploded a powerful bomb near the gate of Ragailong village.

On October 23, two passengers including a woman were charred to death while several others escaped with burnt injuries when armed cadres of KLO/KLA poured petrol and set on fire a Imphal-bound passenger bus at Lahorijan in Karbi Anglong district of Assam .

On November 3, the Pradhan of Irong Chesaba Gram Panchayat was found shot dead unidentified gunmen at Lilong Nungei.

In the afternoon of November 17, junior sub-editor of Imphal Free Press Konsam Rishikanta was found shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Langol.

In protest against the killing, newspaper publication in Imphal remained suspended for 13 days with the mediapersons launching an indefinite cease work strike at Keishampat Junction.

On November 26, mediapersons along with the support of the public took out a mass protest rally.

Newspaper publication resumed on December 2 following the assurance of the Government to hand over the case to CBI.

While the publication of the newspapers was being suspended, two drivers of the IFCD were found shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Leimakhong Mapal in the early morning of November 22.On November 26, suspected underground activists shot dead five workers at Maphou Dam.

During the same month, security forces have killed in all 38 UGs.

On the night of December 14, armed cadres of the proscribed KCP (MC) gunned down a Meira Paibi leader at her own house at Nongren.

On December 16, one armed cadre of KNF suspected to be involved in a firing incident at Kwakta was lynched to death by the infuriated local people.

An elderly person was also charred to death when the mob burnt down a house. In the morning of December 27, a hand grenade was found lying inside the Assembly complex.

In the intervening night of December 28 and 29, MAFYF president Sapamcha Kangleipal, who had been detained under NSA, escaped from the security ward of JN Hospital.

On the night of December 30, army chief and commander of highway task force of the proscribed KCP was shot dead by a combined force during shoot out at Koirengei area.

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