Militant leader killed in encounter in Manipur

A self styled commander of militant outfit Kangleipak Communist Party(KCP), Akoijam Shyambi alias Kokkai was gunned down in an encounter with security personnel at near Manipur capital complex in Imphal.

A self styled commander of militant outfit Kangleipak Communist Party(KCP), Akoijam Shyambi alias Kokkai was gunned down in an encounter with security personnel at near Manipur capital complex in Imphal, police said on Wednesday.

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Kokkai (61) had returned to Imphal valley recently from a militant camp outside Manipur, police said.

The encounter took place when a joint team of police commandos and Assam Rifles personnel raided Koirengei area near in Imphal last night following reports of movement of militants, the police said.

As the security personnel stepped up search, some militants fired at them killing Kokkai, they said adding other militants managed to flee the area.

The police recovered a 9 mm pistol and some rounds of ammunition from the operation area, they said.

Over 450 persons were killed in different militancy related crimes in Manipur this year, official sources said.