Imphal, June 4: Manipur police today gunned down Paozangam Lupheng, chief of the banned Kuki Liberation Army (KLA)?s armed wing and the mastermind behind a string of high-profile abductions in an encounter in the state?s Chaningpokpi area early today.
Another militant of the outfit was also arrested.
The shootout took place when the militant leader ? arrested yesterday ? was leading Imphal East police commandos to a KLA camp under Yairipok police station.
Sources said rebels from inside the camp fired on the commandos, who were zeroing in on them. A handcuffed Lupheng escaped from the police?s clutches under the cover of the gunfire, but was shot dead.
An AK-47 magazine bearing five live rounds, an equal number of spent cartridges and utensils were recovered from the camp.
The 30-year-old Lupheng alais Helun alias Angam hailed from Saikul in Sadar Hills and was ?chief of army staff? of the Kuki outfit.
The police believe the KLA had abducted German social worker Heinrich Wolfgang, former chief minister Rishang Keishing?s son Victor and J. Lunkim, the deputy general manager of Imphal telecom circle. Wolfgang, who represented Evangelicher Entwicklungs Dienst, a Bonn-based NGO, was taken hostage while touring Imphal East on March 23 to monitor progress of development projects . He was freed after 17 days.
Victor Keishing was abducted while on a tour of his home district, Ukhrul. He was freed a few days later.
The telecom official was kidnapped while returning to the state capital after visiting relatives at a village under Yairipok police station. The police said the KLA was also responsible for the ambush on a police party led by the then Ukhrul superintendent of police S. Manglemjao Singh. Though the SP escaped unhurt, a policeman was killed.
Police sources said Lupheng plotted the abductions to raise money through ransom.
The KLA is believed to have collected nearly Rs 50 lakh as ransom for releasing the three persons.
Giving details about today?s encounter, the police said a commando frisking party had arrested Lupheng along with another KLA rebel, identified as Thangkhomang Lupheng, at Sawombung in Imphal East.
The two were riding a motorcycle when they were intercepted. Based on leads from the arrested militants, the police recovered one M-20 pistol and some incriminating documents from a quarter at the National Games village at Langol in Imphal West.
They had also disclosed the location of a KLA camp at Chaningpokpi, where today?s encounter took place at 3 am.