Monday, March 24, 2008

KYKL behind migrant labourers killings, declares state DGP; Two alleged culprits slain in encounter

IMPHAL, Mar 20: While claiming that two out of four militants directly involved in the serial killing of migrant labourers were killed in an encounter last night, Manipur DGP, Y Joykumar on Thursday declared that the proscribed Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, KYKL was behind the serial murders of the 15 migrant labourers.

Mention may be made that at least 15 non-local labourers have been killed in a span of two days in the state by armed suspected militants at different places in the outskirts of Imphal. The state government reacted to the situation by imposing night curfew in the whole area of the four valley districts apart from barring non-locals from venturing to the outskirts of Imphal city.

Thousands of migrants are taking shelter at the relief camps opened by the state government at various places in the district headquarters of the four valley districts.

Speaking at a press conference today, state DGP Y Joykumar said that the KYKL was behind the serial killing of the non-locals in the state.

He said, "We first suspected the RPF/PLA to be behind the serial murders considering their past activities concerning non-locals." But it turned out during further investigation based on information collected from various sources that the KYKL was involved, he added.

Admitting some lapses on the part of the police in responding to the violent incidents, Joykumar said that sincere and tireless round the clock efforts from the officials of his department helped in finding the clues behind the killings of "petty traders".

The police are very much concerned as the incidents have become a question of prestige for the state government and the state`s people. As such no stone would be left unturned in finding out the clues behind the very sensitive case, he said.

"After eliminating two militants directly involved in the killing of seven non-locals at Mayang Imphal Heiyel Hengoon, the police is making all out efforts to trace out a third person involved in the case.

"The police has also got vital clues about the culprits involved in the incidents that took place in Keibi, Takhel and Kakching area in which more non-Manipuris were killed on March 18," Joykumar said adding that clues in this regard also point to the KYKL`s involvement.

"We have established the identities of four persons involved in the murder of three non-local labourers at Takhel on March 18," Joykumar said. But he added, it was not the right time to disclose the names.

Meanwhile, the encounter in which two militants were killed last night took place when police commandos of Imphal west and Bishenpur proceeded to the area on receiving a tip off from a reliable source that the persons directly involved in the killing of seven non-Manipuri petty traders at Hiyel Hengoon on March 17 were in the area, the DGP said.

"When the commando team reached the western side of Charoibung Heibong Makhong at around 9.45 pm, the team came under heavy fire from unknown armed militants. The commando team also returned the fire immediately, the DGP said.

After the exchange of fire ceased after around 10 to 15 minutes, the commandos conducted a search operation there. Two dead bodies were found lying with one AK rifle loaded with nine live rounds and one pistol loaded with four live rounds. Later, the dead bodies were deposited at RIMS morgue for official procedures.

Meanwhile, the police picked up a van (MN1W-0046) along with its owner, one Waikhom Lokendro alias Kocha, 30, son of W Mangi Singh of Wabagai Keithel Macha this morning, acting on a tip off from the same source as in the former incident.

The van was picked up on suspicion of being involved in the killing of seven non-locals at Mayang Imphal Heiyel Hangoon and the owner of the van, Lokendro, who was also the driver of the van was interrogated.

Following the disclosure and identification made by the van owner cum driver it was found that the two slain men along with two other cadres of the KYKL used his vehicle in transportation of the migrant labourers, the DGP said.

The driver identified the two slain men as Sarangthem Sanjoy alias Robert, son of Biramani Singh and Elangbam Dutta, son of late E Modhusudon hailing from the same locality as the van driver and well known by the public of the locality as members of the KYKL.

"Both Sanjoy and Dutta are known KYKL activists," the DGP said adding locals also knew them as members of the outfit.

But when journalists asked, the DGP said that so far there were no cases registered with the police against them in any KYKL related activities.

The DGP said that the police were able to find out all the clues from the information provided to them from various sources. He also stated that without the help of the public the police alone could not maintain law and order and appealed to the general public to cooperate with the police in maintaining order.

 

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