Top PULF leaders among four slain by SFs

IMPHAL, Mar 7: Four top leaders of the armed People’s United Liberation Front (PULF) Azad group, including its chairman Md Azad alias Abdul Kalam Azad have been killed during a pre-dawn encounter with a combined force at Irilbung in Imphal East district today.On the other hand, the chairman of the Kazi Umar group of the armed organi-sation Md Tabe alias Umar Kazi has been reportedly arrested along with another female cadre at Mumbai.According to SP (Imphal East) Th Radheshyam, the shoot-out broke out while a combined force of Imphal East Police Commandos and personnel of 28 Assam Rifles were conducting a search operation after cordoning off the area follo- wing specific information.Addressing a press conference at the Imphal East District police Headquarters located at Porompat here this afternoon, Radhe-shyam said the encounter which lasted for about 30 minutes occurred at around 2.30 am today at a spot called Tekhambi Kachin located near Irilbung Forest Gate under Irilbung Police Station.“Along with sounding an alert, we have been laying in wait in and around the area following reports on presence of PULF activists in connection with holding a meeting and other activities of the armed group,” the SP said.With confirmation of the report last night, the search operation was conducted. CO of the 28 Assam Rifles and the SP himself jointly supervised the whole operation and the subsequent shooting encounter.Even though the SP did not provide information on the identity of the four slain activists, information received by the press suggest they are chairman of PULF Azad faction Md Azad alias Abdul Kalam Azad (37) s/o late Abdul Jalil of Mayang Imphal Chirai, chief of the army and finance secretary Md Sahid alias Raj Khan (25) s/o late Md Bashir of Yairipok Tulihal Awang Leikai, project officer Md Azad Khan Shekhar alias Iyaaz Khan (43) s/o late Na-seruddin and S/S sergeant major Md Firoz Khan (28) s/o Rausan Ali of Santhel Mamang Leikai.Radheshyam further informed that two AK-56 Ri- fles, two magazines with 17 live rounds of ammunition, one lathode gun with two shells, one M-20 pistol with magazine and two rounds, two Chinese hand grenades, a knife and two torch lights were recovered from the slain persons. The bodies of the four slain PULF activists have been taken away by their respective family members after post-mortem examination at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital later during the day today.On the other hand, chairman of the PULF Kazi Umar faction identified as Md Tabe alias Umar Kazi alias Umardin Usman (42) s/o Yusuf Ali of Kwakta Khu-nou and the project officer of the outfit identified as RK Nandarani Devi (38) w/o late Jamesson alias Sanajaoba of Kakching Paji Leikai have been reportedly arrested by a combined force from Navi Mumbai on March 5 morning. The combined force comprising Imphal East Police Commandos and per- sonnel of 12 Maratha Light Infantry from Manipur have assisted by the Mumbai police in effecting the arrest of the both activists from their hideout at Ram Patil Chawl under Taloja Police Station of the metropolitan city.The transit remand of both the arrested activists have been granted till March 11 and most probably they would be brought to Imphal tomorrow.Meanwhile, exchange of heavy firing between the security forces and suspected armed UG activists reportedly took place at Yangoi Khongbal in Wa-ngoi Police Station of Imphal West district at around 4 pm today.

Violating SoO ground rules Delhi, Imp talk tough

IMPHAL, Mar 1 : Taking a serious view of the allegations raised against some Kuki armed groups, the Centre and the State Government have made it clear that they would not remain silent if the cadres of the armed groups, which have signed the Suspension of Operation agreement, violate the ground rules and extort and harass the public. This strong message was conveyed to the leaders of the KNO and UPF during the fourth meeting of the SoO held yesterday with Additional Chief Secretary (Home) DS Poonia in the chair. The meeting was attended by the Joint Secretary of the Home Affairs (North East) Navin Verma, IG Intelligence LM Khaute and representatives from the Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF and Intelligence Department.If the armed groups in talks with the Government engage in abducting Government officials and the public for ransom, serve extortion demands on the public, then the Government will take up fitting action, the UPF and KNO leaders were told, said a source. To pay a monthly allowance of Rs 2000 each per cadre per month to 800 men of the KNO and 1000 men of the UPF with effect from January this year, the Government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 36 lakhs, said the source further. The Government has made it clear that they will not pay allowance to overground workers and cadres who are stationed outside the State. On top of the 11 designated camps identified for the KNO and UPF one more camp for the UPF has been identified, said the source and added that construction work of the camps will start from this month. The designated camps are located at Churachandpur, Chandel and Sadar Hills, said the source and added that a sum of Rs 2.75 crore has been deposited with the Manipur Police Housing Corporation. The need material will be supplied by the Government and construction work will be taken up by the cadres of the outfits. At the moment the Army, AR, police and SIB are keeping a watch over the sites of the designated camps.

KCP (MC) chief Lanheiba held

IMPHAL, Feb 22 : Hard-core KCP (MC) leader Lanheiba Meitei alias Rajen Singh alias Rajesh Singh has been apprehended by troops of 57 Mountain Division from his house at Aizawl yesterday. According to a PIB (DW) press release, the hard-core militant was arrested in a meticulously planned and well coordinated operation code named “Op Grand Slam II).”Following a tip off provided by 57 Mountain Division, a joint operation was launched by a joint team of 57 Mountain Division, Mizoram Police and Manipur Police. The operation was coordinated by the GOC of 57 Mountain Division himself. On receiving information from their own sources that Lanheiba Meitei was taking shelter in his Aizawl house for quite some time, a joint team of officials of 57 Mountain Division and Manipur Police was dispatched to Aizawl on February 8.Since then the house of Rajen alias Lanheiba was kept under constant surveillance.On February 20, specific information was received about the presence of Lanheiba Meitei in his house. Subsequently a trap was laid and Lanheiba Meitei was apprehended by a joint team of 57 Mountain Division, Manipur Police and Mizoram Police in a swift operation on February 21. On interrogation, the apprehended person confirmed himself to be the S/S C-in-C of the banned outfit KCP (MC).Involved in a number of extortion cases, Rajen Singh was earlier apprehended on two occasions. He has been kept in the custody of Mizoram Police for further interrogation.Arrest of Rajen Singh alias Lanheiba Meitei, S/S C-in-C of KCP (MC) has proved a major blow to the outfit, asserted the release.