PLA suspects shot dead; UGs held

IMPHAL, Jan 10: Three armed persons including two suspected cadres of the proscribed PLA have been slain in separate encounters respectively at Ching- phei Ching in between Keirak Buffalo Farm and Kharungpat under Kak-ching police station, and Sa- murou area under Wangoi police station today.According to informed sources, those killed in the first shoot-out are likely to be Thingujam Jiten alias Khumancha (30) of Thoubal kiyam Siphai and Laishram Boyai alias Toni of Mutum Phibou.On the otherhand, sources conveyed that one 9 mm pistol has been recovered from the deceased of the Shamurou incident.Speaking to reporters about the shoot-out, Thoubal SP Clay Khongsai said that the police got information some 4/5 days back about the movement of PLA cadres in Sekmaijin, Wabagai and Keirak areas as well as the outfit’s plan to undertake multiple ambushes in the valley districts.Acting on intelligence input, Thoubal police commandos have been maintai- ning a close vigil on the movement of UG cadres.To pre-empt any subversive activity by the mili- tants, police commandos were deployed at strategic points at Sekmaijin, Wa-bagai and Keirak areas since 2 pm today.At about 2.20 pm, when a commando team reached the Buffalo Farm junction near Kharungpat, the commandos were fired upon by suspected militants with sophisticated weapons. Immediately, the commandos took position and retaliated killing two UG cadres. But the other UG cadres managed to escape in the direction of the lake, the SP said.In subsequent search of the area after the shoot-out which lasted for about 15 minutes, three AK-56 rifles, five magazines, 40 live rounds of AK ammunition, two pressure bombs and one bag were recovered.The SP further said that there might be explosive experts among the PLA cadres who were putting up in the area.Police picked up the corpses and deposited them at RIMS mortuary.One of the slain individual was wearing cargo pant of olive green colour and a green jacket. He had moustache. The other was wearing brown pants and red jersey. UG activists held: Two women activists of the KCP (MC) and one PULF cadre have been arrested by Im-phal East commandos from different places in the last three days. According to a release issued by SP Imphal East Th Radheshyam, Imphal East commandos arrested KCP (MC) activist T Shandiya alias Lei (24) d/o T Noren of Khumbong Ma-kha Leikai from New Chec- kon at about 3.30 pm of Ja-nuary 8. The other women activist of the same outfit identified as Tina Kimneichong Haokip alias Momoi (26) d/o Gou-mang Haokip of Bethlehem Motbung was nabbed from Lamlong along with two demand letters at about 9.15 am today.A team of Imphal East commandos further apprehended one PULF cadre identified as Md Manikhan alias Raju (35) s/o late Md Mahikhan of Kwakta Tera Khongshangbi from Hatta Minuthong at about 10 am yesterday. On the other hand, a press release issued by the PRO of Hqs IG AR (S) informed about AR troops apprehending one PULF (Umar Farooq) cadre and one over-ground worker of the outfit.The PULF cadre identified as S/S Cpl Md Amar (30) s/o Md Ibothem of Yairipok Bamon Leikai was nabbed by troops of 34 AR from Wangkhem today.The overground worker was apprehended by troops of 29 AR while checking a Tata Sumo at Tengnoupal yesterday. Identified as Md Naziruddin (31) s/o Md Kheibuddin of Kwakta, he has been handed over to Tengnoupal police station, added the release. Another PULF activist identified as Bogimayum Ramijuddin (25) s/o Amubi of Irong Makha Leikai was also arrested by Thoubal police commandos from Phundrei village at about 9 am of January 8, informed a release issued by SP Thoubal Clay Khongsai.