UG suspect gunned down

IMPHAL, Jan 21 : A suspected underground activist was shot dead during an alleged encounter with a combined force today afternoon at a spot along the road leading to the site of Marjing Ningthou from Heingang Awang Leikai, 3 kms north of Heingang Police Station in Imphal East district.However, womenfolk of the area protested against the killing asserting that no such encounter had taken place and the alleged UG suspect was shot dead after being brought there.According to police reports, based on specific information about the presence of UGs, a combined force of Imphal West Police Commandos and personnel of 39 Assam Rifles rushed to the area at around 12.10 pm today. In the ensuing encounter, one UG suspect was killed while the rest managed to escape.One 9 mm pistol loaded with three live rounds of ammunition which was lying near the body of the slain UG suspect has been recovered.The body of the slain UG suspect, whose identity is yet to be established, has been picked up by the police and deposited at the mortuary of RIMS.The police report further informed that there is a tattoo with the words ‘KL Alim’ under the left lower chin of the slain UG suspect who was found clad in blue jean pant and olive green T-shirt, and the ear lobes are not pierced.On the other hand, just before retrieving the body, a large number of womenfolk came out and protested against the killing.Asserting that no encounter had taken place and the alleged UG suspect had been done to death by the security forces after being brought there, the womenfolk also tried to stop the police from retrieving the body.Afterward a protest demonstration was also staged at Heingang Awang Leikai decrying the conduct of the security personnel.Talking to mediapersons at the occasion, a woman leader of Heingang Apunba Meira Paibi Lup categorically stated that the people of the area would not allow the security personnel to bring their captives for being killed by taking advantage of the secluded location.