Suspected murder weapons seized

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 28: A combined team of Imphal East commando and 26 Assam Rifles recovered some arms and ammunition, suspected to have been used in the killing of K Hengjang village chief and his nephew on July 10.
According to a reliable source, on getting specific information about the presence of some armed cadres of KNF (N), suspected to be involved in the killing of Thangkhotinlet Kipgen (village chief of K Hengjang village) and his nephew Tnagminlun Haokip (22) s/o Thengkhothang Haokip of Bongbal Khullen, in and around B Gamnom village under Thoubal Dam PS, Imphal East, a combined team of Imphal East commando and a column of 26 Assam Rifles, carried out a massive counter insurgency operations at B Hengjang village, Saichang village, Bongbal Khullen, NP Khullen, Keihao village, Molkon village, Mongjang village and Songphel village, from July 11 onwards. Yesterday, it was learnt that someday back, before the killing, around eight armed individuals, suspected to be KNF (N) cadres, took shelter at B Gamnom village at the residence of its village chief Henkhothang Kipgen and after the incident, the said individuals escaped.
The sources mentioned that Henkho-thang Kipgen (71) s/o (L) Hemjangam Kipgen, Demkhosat Kipgen (66) s/o (L) Hemjangam Kipgen of Leimakhong Bazaar and Dousat Haokip (67) s/o (L) Mangjachon of Phaijang village, Saikul, were earlier arrested on July 20 and are currently in police custody as suspects of the killing.
During the operation yesterday, the combined team searched every nook and corner of the village and in due course, the team recovered an AK-47 assault rifle loaded with 9 live rounds, a lathode gun with four shells, 47 AK 47 rounds and an unexploded lathode shell, concealed underground at a farmhouse belonging to the village chief of B Gamnom, Henkhothang Kipgen. The recovered arms and ammunition were handed over to Thoubal Dam PS for necessary legal process, the source added.