Six killed in Manipur, home secretary reviews security

Author: IANS
Publication: Earth Times
Date: October 18, 2007
URL: http://www. earthtimes. org/articles/show/126303. html

Six people, including four separatists and two civilians, were killed in separate attacks in Manipur even as union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta visited the state to review the security situation, officials said Thursday. A police spokesperson said paramilitary troopers of the Assam Rifles gunned down three militants near Sora village in Thoubal district Wednesday. 'The militants belonged to the People's United Liberation Front (PULF) and those killed included its 'deputy home secretary'. The killings could adversely impact the organisation,' an Assam Rifles commander said. The PULF is an Islamist rebel group in Manipur fighting for the rights of Muslims, besides trying to carve out an Islamic state. 'An AK-47 rifle, a Chinese hand grenade, one single bore shotgun, besides pistols and ammunitions were recovered from the dead militants,' the official said. In another raid, Assam Rifles troopers shot dead a militant belonging to the outlawed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) in Bishenpur district Wednesday. Elsewhere two people were killed by rebels in separate attacks late Wednesday. 'One of the victims was a former rebel who had surrendered,' the official said. Meanwhile, Gupta Wednesday held a high-level security meeting in state capital Imphal to review the law and order situation with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. Gupta was accompanied by Naveen Verma, joint secretary, home ministry (northeast). 'The home secretary reviewed the situation and took a brief on the ongoing counter-insurgency operations. The central team has suggested several measures to contain militancy in the state,' a police official said. Nearly 20 separatist groups are active in Manipur, bordering Myanmar, with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.

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