MPHAL, Feb 4 ? As many as 23 persons have been killed in insurgency related violence in different parts of the State in the first month of the new year. The deaths occurred either during encounters between security personnel and insurgents or the victims were killed by unidentified armed persons. On January 1 a sergeant of the outlawed Revolutionary People?s Front(RPF) identified as Khundrakpam Arunkumar alias Bimol of Takyel Kolom Leikai was killed by the personnel of 33 Assam Rifles during an encounter near Lamjao at about 4 am.
On January 5, constable Brajanglal of 14 Bn CRPF was killed in an ambush launched by cadres of United National Liberation Front(UNLF) at Khumoi village in Churachandpur district at about 10.10 am. On January 6, three suspected cadres of Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup(KYKL) were killed by Thoubal police commandos during an encounters at about 8.45 am in between Heirok Litan Makhong and Inganglok.
The three slain cadres are Thokchom Pashuram of Heirok Part-III Inganglok, Nongmaithem Brojen alias Robert of Yairipok Khoirom Makha Leikai and Laishram Shantikumar alias Pukchao of Heirok Part-II Devi Mandop. The family members of Th Pashuram, however, claimed that he was an innocent person who did not have any connection with any underground orga- nisation.
In the afternoon of the same day, an activist of KCP was shot down by a combined force of Bishnupur Commandos, 2 IRB and 7 CRPF at Thanga Samukon. On January 12, a lieutenant of NSCN (K) identified as SS Bebe alias John Lamkang of Thang-meiband Maisnam Leikai, who originally hailed from Mantri Pantha in Chandel district was killed by Imphal West Commandos at Iroisemba Chingning Laining village at about 6.45 pm.
On January 13, personnel of 19th Rajput Rifles shot down one Sapam Nanao of Sa-wombung Awang Leikai, who is said to a member of KYKL at Awang Leikinthabi at about 8 pm. On January 14, a suspected ultra identified as Sapam Inaobi of Wangjing Tekcham was killed during an encounter with Thoubal Police Commandos at Thoubal Athokpam Khunou at about 10.30 pm.
On January 15, personnel of 28 Assam Rifles shot down a suspected ultra identified as Md Ibosana of Yairipok Changamdabi at Charangpat at about 3.30 am. However, the family members asserted that Md Ibosana was an innocent person and had been picked from the house by the personnel on the night of January 14 at about 9 pm. On January 16, rifleman Umeshchandra of 37 Assam Rifles was killed in the ambush launched by UNLF cadres at New Mongyang, Moreh at about 7.10 am.
On January 19, an ASI of BSF identified as G Salim was killed near SBI, Churachandpur town at about 1.40 pm when PLA activists launched an attack. Constable Chingmu Angthang Paite who was part of the reinforcement team rushed to the site on hearing the news was also killed in the attack. A 30-year old woman identified as Kimchaong of Tolen Village who was hit by a stray bullet also succumbed to the injuries. Besides, Constable Lalkhanthang and H Memcha of Zou Veng sustained bullet injuries in the incident.