IMPHAL, November 15: Thoubal district police commandos allegedly gunned down a suspected cadre of the proscribed UNLF during a skirmish during the wee hours today at Andro Iroi Lok under Thoubal district.
At the same time, the police have also claimed to have rescued an individual held captive by the suspected militants.
Elaborating on the successful counter insurgency operation during a press conference held today at the office chamber of the Superintendent of Police, Thoubal district, SP K Jayenta Singh, revealed that a team of the Thoubal police commandos was mobilized after getting information of the kidnapped of a secretary of the State Security Service (SSS) and conducted operations at various locations including Yairipok, Yambem and Andro areas since yesterday 5:30 am.
The kidnapped victim has been identified as Wahengbam Bishorjit alias Thambou, 28, s/o W. Amu Singh of Leimapokpam Makha Leikai under Bishnupur district. The SP informed that he was kidnapped from Yairipok Angtha/Angtha area on November 13 by armed miscreants.
The SP further stated that the team rushed towards Iroi Lok area after receiving specific intelligence inputs of the presence of the militant cadres and the kidnapped victim and laid an ambush there. At around 3:50 am in the wee hour today the team during its operation confronted the unidentified armed UGs who were moving along with the kidnapped victim at the western side of Iroi Lok.
Despite being ordered to stop the armed miscreants opened fire at the commando team who also immediately retaliated to the firing. The gun fire exchange continued for about 25 minutes however some of the UGs managed to escape taking advantage of the hilly terrain and darkness, he stated.
The SP further informed that after the gun fight the team conducted a thorough search and found an unidentified bullet ridden male dead body and a person hiding behind bushes who later on verification was identified as the kidnapped victim.
The team also recovered one .32 pistol with magazine loaded with two live rounds and one inside the chamber, an empty case of .32, one hand grenade from near the dead body.
One dual Sim mobile handset (Maxx) with one Airtel Sim and one Reliance Sim, one black leather Wallet containing Rs 165 in cash were recovered from the pocket of the deceased.
Moreover, the SP informed that 15 numbers of empty cases of AK Rifles were also recovered from the site.
A case has been registered at Yairipok Police Station for further investigation, the Police informed.
Talking to media persons during the conference, the rescued victim disclosed that he was abducted by unknown armed youths at gun point from Yairipok who identified themselves as members of the UNLF on November 13.
He was believed to have been abducted in connection with monetary demand imposed on the SSS security guard company however the victim claimed that he was not informed of the reason behind the abduction.