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.

Slain duo Cong office bombers: SP

IMPHAL, Feb 28: The two persons shot dead by police commandos near Khurai Lamlong Thong (bridge) last night are informed to be KCP-MC’s Lanheiba Mei-tei group activists who were involved in the recent bomb attacks at offices of the Congress party.Speaking to mediaper-sons at the Porompat office of Imphal East district police headquarters this afternoon, the district’s Superin- tendent of police Th Radheshyam claimed that in- criminating documents (notebook) recovered from the slain duo and information received by the police confirm the slain persons to be KCP-MC’s Lanheiba Meitei group activists.Illustrating further, he said the deceased persons were cadres of the outfit’s Lanjaba Unit Special Demo Team and worked under one of the four commands recently announced by the KCP as a part of its Operation Red Fox campaign.The seized notebook is said to contain more vital informations such as location of district and block level Congress offices (likely targets), names of Congress party loyalists as well as arms/weapons assigned to KCP-MC members.Contemplating that there is possibility of the outfit carrying out more attacks at Congress offices, the SP also maintained of all the police stations in Imphal East district issued high alert notices with strong instructions to police and commando officials to be vigilant round the clock.Disclosing that the KCP is today split into many factions but the armed cadres still capable of carrying out subversive acts in the State, he also confided that the pu-blic had been very coopera- tive and resourceful in effecting arrest of armed cadres.It may be noted here that the KCP had claimed responsibility for the Februa- ry 26 grenade attacks at Congress offices located in Thoubal district and Nambol areas.Another explosive device was recovered from the Soibam Leikai office premises of the Congress party yesterday morning.The SP suspects the deceased persons to be KCP-MC’s self-styled 2nd Lt Laishram Sekin alias Ken-ny (32) s/o (L) Nungshi- tombi Singh of Yaingang-pokpi and Ashangbam Ja- dumani (37) s/o (L) Rabei of Maibakhul Mamang Leikai.Items recovered from the two included one AK-56 rifle with a magazine, an Italy-made Barretta pistol (9 mm) with three live rounds and a Chinese hand-grenade, according to Radhe- shyam.

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.

Two UG suspects slain in encounter

Two suspected UG cadres have been slain in a reported encounter with troops of 31 Assam Rifles operating under 26 Sector near Moreh in the wee hours at about 1.45 am today. It is suspected that the two UG cadres slain in the encounter that took place at Old H Mongjang village located about 9 kms North East of Moreh police station might be brothers.According to the PRO of Hqs IG AR (South), the 31 AR troops, acting on specific information about movement of UNLF cadres in the area, laid multiple ambushes there. At about 1.45 am, the troops observed two persons moving in a suspicious manner from the direction of Kwatha towards Khudengthabi and one of them was spotted with a weapon. On being challenged, they opened fire towards the troops who retaliated immediately. Two suspected UG cadres were killed in the ensuing gun fight, the PRO conveyed. One AK 47 rifle with one magazine containing 10 live rounds, one Chinese made hand grenade and a radio set were recovered from the two slain UG suspects.According to another source, the two slain individuals might be Letkhanhao Vaiphei (29) s/o late Paoneithang of Moreh ward no 3 and his younger brother Khupthenkham Vaiphei (25).Corpses of the two individuals whose identities are yet to be confirmed officially have been brought to RIMS mortuary by Moreh police today. One killed, 30 hurt : A woman passenger has been killed and 30 others injured when a bus in which they were travelling fell down a steep hill side at Makhan Khullen in Senapati district, reports our Senapati correspondent. The deceased has been identified as Athishi (40) of Chawanamei Khullen.The ill-fated bus was moving from Senapati to Maopungdong before the tragic accident occurred at about 4 pm. The injured victims are undergoing treatment in Maram Primary Health Centre. Conditions of some of the victims are reported to be serious.The bus was plying along Senapati-Maopungdong route. Most of the time, buses plying along the route are overcrowded. It is reported that mechanical snag might be the cause of the accident.