IMPHAL, June 8 – The proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) claimed the responsibility for the encounter that took place with the combined force of State police and India Reserve Bettalion in the adjoining areas of Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts Saturday. During the encounter, six security personnel susustained bullet injuries. The encounter took place at Khoirentak, Harmontang and Moirang Khousabung in and around the adjoining areas of Bishnupur and Churachandpur district. The gunbattle continued for several hours.
Claiming that the underground cadres of UNLF were involved the encounter, the outfit in a statement issued here advised the State forces, particularly the Manipur Police commandos and Indian Reserve battalion personnel not to intrude into the territory of the outfit in the region.
The State forces would have suffered major casualties if they (the outfit) had not restrained themselves, the statement claimed. Mention may be made here that six police personnel were injured during the shootout.
Stating that UNLP still sticks to its principle of not hitting out at the State force, it said it will strike back if they intrude into their territory. The outfit also added that the killing of 37 Assam Rifles men at Moreh the commercial border town along the Indo-Myanmar border on May 31, last was also carried out by a cadre of the Manipur People’s Army (MPA), the armed wing of the outfit.
Meanwhile, the two youths who were gunned down by personnel of 28 Assam Rifles at Bungte Chiru village in Bishnupur district on Sunday have been identified as Hekho Louvhum (28) of Henglep and Haopu Heokip (25) of Phoipi Villa, both under Churachandpur district of the State. Their bodies have been handed over to their families after conducting post-mortem, sources here said.
Similarly, the identity of youth shot dead by troops of 19 Assam Rifles at Mahadeva under Litan police station in Ukhrul district has been established as Paokai Haokip (20) of Oil Somtal under Chandel district.