IMPHAL, Oct 15: At least two people were killed in two seperate incidents of gun violence during the past 24 hours in the state.
While one person was killed during a gun battle with combined security forces, another person was killed by unknown gunmen after he was whisked away from his residence late last night.
The first incident occured at Langathel in Thoubal district while the second incident occured at Wakha village in Imphal East district.
According to an official source, a fierce gun battle ensued between a combined team of Thoubal police commandos and troops of the 15 Assam Rifles at Khongjom late last night when a combined security team was conducting an operation following report of presence of armed militants at the area.
The source further said acting on information about the presence of armed cadres of valley based militants in the general area of Khongjom, the combined team conducted a search operation from 11 pm onwards.
At about 2:40 am today the combined team came under heavy firing from some UG elements at Langathel from the river bank of Khongjom River. The security forces also retaliated and the encounter ensued for about 15 minutes.
After the encounter, at about 3 am, on searching the encounter site, one bullet riddled body of a militant was found. Furthermore arms and ammunitions were also recovered from near the dead body, said the source.
The recovered items include one AK-series assault rifle with magazine, 10 live ammunitions of AK Rifle, one Chinese made hand grenade and one driving license in the name of Moirangthem Ngouba, 32, s/o Khoidum of Thangband Sinam Leikai.
The family members who came to identify the body said Ngouba was once a member of the UNLF but has been discharged on medical ground. They also said Ngouba has been missing since October 13.
In the second incident, armed miscreants shot death a man at Wakha Leima Ching under Porompat Police station, Imphal East district.
The victim has been identified as one Md. Romesh alias Ithemba, 27, s/o Tomba of Kshetri Bengul Awang Leikai. Ithemba’s dead body was recovered this afternoon at Wakha Leima Ching with a bullet injury at the back of his head.
According to family sources, the deceased Ithemba was taken away by three armed miscreants from his residence late last night around 11:45 pm at gun point. All the armed miscreants were covered their faces with plastic marks.
Further family members of the deceased disclosed that Ithemba had some connection with security forces however the motive behind the killing could not be ascertained as no individual or organization claim responsibility for his killing so far. The victim is survived by his wife and two daughters.
