Imphal, March 04 2009: Amidst contradictory claims, a suspected activist of the armed outfit PULF was reportedly shot dead during an encounter with the combined force of Thoubal Police Commandos and personnel of 21 Assam Rifles at Phoubakchao under Mayang Imphal Police Station in Imphal West district at around 11.50 am today.

The family members, however, have asserted that the deceased was an innocent student and along with formation of a Joint Action Committee in protest against the killing an indefinite bandh has been called along Mayai Lambi with effect from 6 am tomorrow.

According to a statement issued by Senior SP of Thoubal District Clay Khongsai, the suspected PULF activist, whose identity is yet to be established was killed in the retaliatory firing of the combined force.

The SSP informed that acting on specific information about the presence of PULF cadres at Phaobakchao village, the combined force conducted search operation at around 11.50 am.

During the search of several houses, one suspected PULF cadre holding a 9 mm pistol tried to escape from one of the houses.

The combined force shouted at him to stop, but the unidentified youth fired at the combined force and kept running.

In the retaliatory firing, the youth was killed at the spot.

One 9 mm pistol, one magazine, three live rounds of 9 mm and one misfired round of 9 mm ammunition have also been recovered from the spot, the SSP added.

On the other hand, contradicting the police claim, the family members have asserted that the deceased was a 13-year old innocent student and he was gunned down after being picked up from the house.

The deceased has been identified as Md Azad (13) s/o Md Wahid Ali of Phoubakchao Heibong Yangbi.

Mad Azad was studying in class VII in Phoubakchao High School.

Along with formation of a JAC in protest against the killing, an indefinite bandh has also been imposed on Mayai Lambi with effect from 6 am tomorrow.

Talking to mediapersons, one of the aunties of the deceased identified as Nasim Babu (28) w/o Dr Bashir informed that Md Azad had been picked up by the Thoubal Police Commandos who are attached with Waikhong Police Station and came in three Gypsies from his house and shot him dead at a spot just 70 metre away.

Nasim also said that she saw the Commandos throwing a pistol near the body of Md Azad.

K Anand, a student of class IX in Phoubakchao High School, who is a friend of Md Azad and was reading newspaper together before the killing took place, recalled that as soon as the Commandos arrived, they (commandos) questioned him why he was staying there and whether he did not know Md Azad was an underground activist.

The Commandos also showed a gun to him saying it belonged to Md Azad and slapped him on the face before being chased away.

Anand, however, clarified that he did not actually saw Azad being gunned down as he had already gone inside the house.

Protesting against the killing, a large number of people including representatives of the JAC were coming in a bus together to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Mayang Imphal A/C MLA Dr Ratankumar when the police stopped the protestors at Mayang Imphal Bazar area.

In the memorandum, the JAC has demanded punishment of the police commandos involved in the killing, setting up of a library in the memory of Azad at his school, upgrading the school to a full-fledged Government high school, providing a suitable Government job to the family of the deceased and payment of Rs 5 lakhs as ex-gratia.

The JAC has also decided not to take back the body until these demands are considered.

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