Four killed by Army, commando

Imphal, February 4 : AT LEAST four suspected underground activists have been killed in three separate incidents in the last 24-hour in the state in alleged encounters with the combined security forces, and recovered arms and ammunitions.

The first incident occurred last night around 11 pm at Sianah village in Churachandpur district near the Indo-Burma international border under Singhat police station.

The slain man was identified as Chinkhoneh Zou hailing of the same village where the incident occurred.

He died when security forces taking position on his way to back from hunting fired at him.

He was not related with any underground group, the chief of the Sainah village reported.

However, a statement of the PIB, Defense Wing today said that he was killed when troops of the 57 Mountain Division laid an ambush in general area of Sianah village on the night of February 2 .

The individual was found died with a weapon in his possession, said the PIB statement expressing that he was suspected to acting as guide to the undergrounds.

His body was recovered during a search operation in the aftermath of the ambush.

The second incident occurred this morning at around 6 am at Makhom village located at the Kangchup foothill and there troops of 16 Assam Rifles killed two suspected PREPAK cadres who were believed to be taking shelter there together with NNC activists.

They were killed by the troops of the Assam Rifles in a joint operation with the police commandos of the Imphal west who entered the area based on reliable information of presence of some PREPAK cadres in the area, said a PIB statement.

When the combined force were taking position around the target area the unidentified groups hiding in a house opened heavy volume of fire with lathode and automatic rifles which they retaliated and killed two of them after around 30 minutes of exchange of fire, the statement added.

One AK-47 rifles with huge quantity of lathode and AK ammunitions were recovered from the slain suspects, the release added.

No casualty to the security forces side.

According to the chief of the village, around 30 well armed undergrounds cadres came to the village yesterday evening at around 4 pm.

they were shifted from Kangchup Chiru village where they stayed in the last two or three days.

The undergrounds stayed at the Church and nearby houses of the village the night.

But this morning when the exchange of fire erupted, the village displaced themselves but the security forces encircling the village kept them in the office of the village church.

After the firing stop, a team of Imphal west police commandos under the supervision of the SDPO, Dr.

Jalahjit arrived there and conducted the search operation in the village.

Both the slain cadres wear combat fatigues and innumerable numbers of bullet hit them.

The reporters who entered to cover the event were also bar from entering the villager around two hours after the arrival there.

But, allowed to enter on arrival of the police trms from Lamshang and Sapermaina.

Till late afternoon the search operation continue in the area.

In the meantime, the troops of 16 Assam Rifles conducted a free medical team at the same place today.

The dead bodies were later retrieved from the spot and deposited at RIMS morgue for identification.

The third incident occurred this evening at around 7 pm at a by-lane at Sajor Leikai Lai Khutlembi under Porompat police station in which one suspected underground was killed by the Imphal east police commandos.

Police said, one Italy make 9 mm pistol with four live rounds recovered from the slain man suspected to KCP(MC) .

A demand letter of Rs 20 lakhs address to one Santosh Mehta signed by KCP (MC), commander in-chief Lamyanba and district commander Rom Meetei and an identity card issued in the name of Chanam Biren son of Ibomcha of Ishok Mamang Leikai by the IMC was also found.