Three UG suspects slain in 3 incidents

IMPHAL, Jan 27 : Three suspected UG cadres have been slain in three separate incidents of reported encounters with security forces in Thoubal and Imphal West districts today.The first incident took place on the road from Kakching to Irengband under Kakching police station at about 5.15 am today, informed a police source.According to a press release issued by SP Thoubal Clay Khongsai, a combined team of Thoubal police commandos and troops of 21 AR was searching the area when 3/4 suspected militants were observed coming from Irengband to Kakching side. The combined team signalled them to stop for verification but the uniden-tified youths on seeing the security forces tried to escape. Suddenly one of the youths took out a hand grenade and tried to hurl it at the security forces.In the retaliatory firing, the combined team shot dead one of the youths at the spot while the others managed to escape along the canal leading to the Pat. One .36 hand grenade was also recovered from near the deceased youth. The slain individual has been identified as Khundrak-pam Bimol (35) s/o Mani of Khangabok Awang Leikai. Earlier he was a cadre of the banned KCP and had been imprisoned.The second incident took place at Chongtham Kona under Wangoi police station at about 4.15 pm. During the encounter which lasted for about 20 minutes, Imphal West commandos scalped one UG suspect. One 9 mm pistol and two live rounds were recovered from near the corpse of the slain UG suspect. Police have picked up the corpse and deposited it at RIMS mortuary. The third reported encounter took place near Ngariyan hills area. Another press release issued by SP of Thoubal District Clay Khongsai informed that based on specific information about movement of KCP (MC) cadres in and around Andro-Ngariyan hills area, Thoubal po lice commandos rushed to the area to intercept the UG cadres. At about 4.50 pm, three/four persons were observed moving in suspicious manner.On noticing the commandos, the unidentified youths fired at the commandos and ran away in different directions. The commandos chased them and one of the unidentified youths was shot dead in the ensuing shoot-out. On searching the encounter site, one pistol (Colt) along with three live rounds were recovered from the deceased.