IMPHAL
— An armed militant was killed and six others were apprehended after a
fierce exchange of fire between Commandos and a militant group
in Thoubal District on Saturday, officials said.
A significant cache of arms and ammunition, along with
multiple electronic devices, were also recovered from the spot.
A senior police official in Imphal said that armed militants
attacked the Manipur Police Commandos at Salungpham Thongkhong during a routine
patrol in Thoubal district.
The Commando personnel also retaliated against the attack
and nabbed six militants while another was injured in the gun battle. The
injured cadre subsequently succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital.
Another police official said that the armed militants,
travelling in two cars, were initially pursued by the police on suspicion.
The armed group opened fire on the police commando,
prompting the security personnel to retaliate, which led to the fierce encounter,
the official said.
The body of the slain militant Laishram Prem alias Loktak
Singh (18) was shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in
Imphal for an autopsy examination.
The arrested militants have been identified as Thokchom
Momocha alias Sunny (41), Sarangthem Anand Singh alias Malem (36), Ningthoujam
Karna Singh alias Pishak (27), Ningthoujam Manoranjan Singh alias Khagemba
(21), Thongam Phalguni alias Urikpa alias Khoithol (27) and Moirangthem Johnson
alias Thouna (21).
A large cache of arms and ammunition, along with multiple
electronic devices, were also recovered from the spot.
The recovered arms and ammunition include two INSAS Rifles
(5.56 mm), one Amogh Rifle (5.56 mm), one .303 Rifle, one SLR (7.62 mm), one
INSAS Folding Rifle (5.56 mm), and a huge quantity of various types of
ammunition, and five mobile phones.
Thoubal District Police, however, are verifying whether the
slain individual and the arrested persons are militants of any outfit or armed
village volunteers.
(Source: Manipur Police)