Two more non-local men shot dead in Imp

IMPHAL, Mar 1: hardly 24 hours after a non-Manipuri barber was shot dead at Sagolband area, unidentified gunmen shot dead two non-locals today including a sugarcane juice seller in broad daylight at Kwakeithel Bazar and a porter at about 7.50 pm at Chinga Makha Phura Makhong.According to police, the Kwakeithel incident took place at about 12.10 pm with the assailant opening fire from point blank range while the non-local was taking shelter under a roadside tree with his hand-cart stationed nearby.The deceased is identified as one Rajkumar Choudhury (18) s/o Ramnath from Bihar’s Buxar district but staying at a rented quarter along with his uncle in Kwakeithel Akham Leikai. Quoting eyewitnesses, a police source informed that three persons, including the driver came in an auto -rickshaw with one person out of two alighting from the passenger seat with a small arm and shooting Rajkumar on the head.While Rajkumar died on the spot the assailants after committing the crime, fled from the scene in the same autorickshaw towards the Kwakeithel-Sayang road.A commando team reportedly arrived at the scene soon after and trailed the perpetrators but there is no information of any arrest in connection with the killing.The victim of the second incident is yet to be officially identified but is expected to be one Sarajeevan (40) of Bihar. According to reports the assailant/s broke open the gate of the house and came in calling out for one Joker Bhaiya. The victim was found shot dead on his bed with two bullet wounds in the rented room which he shared with Joker Bhaiya (Shyam Shankar) and another identified as Sushil. Shyam Shankar is a cart puller while Sushil is also a porter. The landlord is identified as as Pukhrambam Mema. According to SSP (Imphal West) L Kailun security measures have been beefed up at many Imphal district areas where non-locals reside. Subsequently police patrolling have been increased and security personnel have been directed to maintain vigil at outlying areas of the capital city, the SSP said while disclosing that section of non-Manipuri traders and public leaders expressed their concern on the recent spurt in criminal activities against non-locals.Meanwhile, members of the manipur Barber Association staged a protest demonstration at Rup Mahal Tank of BT Road today in denunciation of the killing of a barber (Suresh Thakur) at Sagolband Bijoy Govinda area yesterday.

Barber shot dead

IMPHAL, Feb 28: A non-local barber was shot dead by an unidentified gun man inside his saloon at Sagol- band at about 7.30 am today.The deceased barber identified as Suresh Thakur (22) s/o Somnath Thakur was a native of Chhapra district, Bihar but staying near Uripok Cheirap Court.He was shot dead by a youth who came to the saloon on the pretext of having a hair cut.Suresh Thakur was hit by a bullet on the right side of his head.The saloon was opened/run by one Birendra Thakur just opposite to Bijoy Govinda Thangapat on the southern side of Imphal-Jiribam road.Birendra Thakur, a relative of Suresh, said that he saw one youth going inside the saloon when he was sun-bathing outside.Moments after, a gun shot was heard. On rushing inside the saloon, Suresh Thakur was seen lying on the floor. The assailant who wore jean pants and wind-proof jackets wielding small arms left the place in an auto-rickshaw heading towards Khwairamband Keithel, Birendra conveyed. The identity of the killer and the possible motive behind the killing cannot be ascertained as yet, said a senior officer of Imphal West Police. He said that investigation into the killing has been initiated.This is the first incident of attacking non-locals this year after 15 non-local labourers were shot dead by gun men at Hayel Hangoon and other areas of the valley on March 17 and 18 last year.Another four non-local labourers were also mowed down in the different areas of Imphal East and Imphal West districts on June 24 last year.

Two shot dead, eight nabbed

IMPHAL, Feb 14: Following tip-off about movement of UGs in Maringthel area in Chandel district, troops of 29 Assam Rifles of 26 sector under HQ IGAR (South) laid an ambush and gunned down two UG cadres at about 1 pm today.While the AR troops were trying to stop the two cadres the latter duo fired at them and in retaliation the two cadres were killed recovering two 7.65 pistol, 4 live rounds, six Chinese Grenade and three fired cases from the slain cadres, said a release issued by HQ IGAR (South).In another incident, one UNLF cadre who was travelling by a Maruti van was ap- prehended by the same troops at a Mobile check post established at Sita-Tengnoupal road junction on February 13.The incident occurred when the apprehended person coming from Moreh tried to evade frisking at the check post. The apprehen-dee identified as P Momoda Singh (24) s/o Lala Singh of Imphal West claimed himself as a cadre of UNLF during an interrogation, according to the release. UG cadres held: A team of Imphal East district police commandos arrested one KCP cadre identified as Moirangthem Bikram (36) s/o M Achou of Kongba Makha Nandeibam Leikai from Thambalkhong Lisham Leirak. One 9mm pistol with one magazine loaded with two live rounds were recovered from his possession. On verification, he disclosed that he joined KCP in the month of January 2009 through one Samananda of KCP. He was involved in extortion of money from general public and Government officials in Imphal East area, said a press release of Imphal East SDPO. Based on specific information, troops of 28 AR launched operation in the general area of Yairipok Awang Leikai and arrested one UNLF cadre