Eight KCP men slain in shootout at Khongman

IMPHAL, January 30: Eight cadres of underground Kangleipak Communist Party, KCP, including its home in-charge, finance secretary and district commander, Imphal east, were killed by troops of the 17th Assam Rifles in an operation in the early hours this morning. Four weapons, along with at least five hand grenades were also recovered. Officials sources said a 17th AR column led by its commandant, Col Dilwar, launched operations in the Khongman Manjil area at around 4.30 this morning after learning of the presence of some activists of the KCP there. Eight activists of the outfit were killed, while one service carbine, three pistols, three Indian made hand grenades, and three Chinese hand grenades were recovered. According to Col Dilwar, who spoke to IFP at the spot of incident, the KCP activists opened fire on the AR troops while the latter were approaching their camp. He said the AR troops also retaliated, and the eight KCP activists were killed in the ensuing encounter while some others managed to escape. The exchange of fire lasted for at least one hour, according to Dilwar. The slain activists were apparently camped in a depression located just beyond a bamboo grove at Khongman Mamangpat. A earthen bund of about one and a half feet in height was found erected around the camp. Some mats, two meiphus, clothing, firewood, tea and sugar, and tooth brushes and paste were found at the camp. AR sources said the camp appeared to have been in use for some time. The bodies of four of the slain activists were found at the campsite, when IFP visited the spot, while two others were lying at a distance of around 50 feet. Two others were in paddy filed near the camp. Most of the bodies bore gunshot wounds to the head. AR sources add that the carbine found at the site has been identified by the police as one of the weapons snatched on March 18, 1996 in an ambush by the PLA on a police party led by additional SP Jayentakumar at Chingarel. The IG (Law and Order), A Romenkumar, DIG Khaute and the SPs of Imphal West and East districts also visited the site sometime after the encounter. Among the dead were KCP home-in-charge Huidrom Romi alias Romeo, 36, of Sagolband Thangjam Leirak, finance secretary Laiba, 34, of Khangabok, district comamnder, Imphal east, Arambam Dhananjoy, 32, of Khongman Zone-II, Elangbam Sarat, 18, of Khangabok, and N Nanao, 18, of Samaram in Thoubal district. The rest have not been officially identified, but they are believed to be one Jiten, 26, of Kameng, Robin, 26 of Sagolband, and Surjit, 26 of Tentha. The respective families have not yet turned up to claim the bodies of the slain activists, and they are still at RIMS mortuary.