IMPHAL, December 21: A UG cadre suspected to be involved in the killing of PHED Irilbung chowkidar Soram Ibomcha and his son was killed by a combined team of Imphal east and west commandos during an encounter today at 12:30am at Naran Konjil, Imphal west, informed a police source.
A reliable police source has identified the suspected KCP (MTF) Kesho Meitei cadre as Laishram Ranbir alias Isen, 44, s/o (l) L Ibobi of Uchiwa.
The police source further informed that on getting reliable information about the presence of UG cadres in the surrounding area of Naran Konjil, the combined team of police commandos conducted a search operation in the area.
During the search operation, the suspected militants fired towards the commando team and in retaliatory firing, the said militant cadre was killed while his other accomplices managed to escape from the area in the cover of the darkness, further added the source.
Police further recovered one 9mm pistol with two live ammunitions and three empty cases from his possession, the source added.
Meanwhile, in contrary to the police version, family members of the dead victim have identified L Ranbir as an innocent person.
Family members while talking to media persons further identified Ranbir as working under the Mayang Imphal MLA. He is also a member of the Mayang Imphal Congress Committee and is survived by his wife, one son and one daughter, they further informed.
In connection with the incident, locals of Uchiwa today formed a JAC against the Assasination of Laishram Ranbir alias Isen and further submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding proper arrangement for the bereaved family and punishing the involved security personnel in the killing of L Ranbir.
Locals of the area have further decried the killing and took out a procession from their locality to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister which was stopped by police at Mayang Imphal bazaar area.
The memorandum was later submitted by a few representatives of the JAC and the local MLA to the Chief Minister this evening.
