IMPHAL, Oct 11 � Leader of Manipur-based armed group Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP-MTF) Sunil Meitei, who escaped from a police station lock-up a week ago, was shot dead in a police operation last midnight.
The incident took place in the residence of one Longjam Shyam Singh, of Yumnam Huidrom village, around 20 km from here under Wangoi police station in Imphal West district when police commandos conducted a house to house search based on information that the militant leader�s wife had left for the location of her husband late last midnight.
Police said Longjam Shyam, who was later identified as Secretary in-charge of KCP-MTF (Sunil Meitei faction)�s Home department, gave shelter to the �fugitive�.
During the search operation one constable opened the latch of a wooden plank in an underground bunk. Immediately, the police party was fired upon with an automatic weapon. The police party retaliated and shot dead the armed person in the underground bunk, DGP Yumnam Joykumar said while addressing a hurriedly called press conference this morning. �We have recovered one 9mm pistol with a magazine loaded with four live rounds�, he said.
Longjam Shyam has been detained prior to the gunfight, the police chief added. However, the wife of Sunil Meitei escaped taking advantage of the darkness.
The KCP (MTF) leader Ch Tiken Meitei alias Sunil Meitei alias Leninkumar, of Wahengkhuman Mayai Leikai village in Imphal West district, who was wanted in several criminal cases related to abduction, extortion and killings, had escaped from the custody of Porompat police station in Imphal East district on the night of October 3.
He was arrested from Bengaluru by a combined security team from Imphal and New Delhi on June 29 and brought back to Imphal for questioning on July 21 this year.
Seven Manipur police personnel including the Officer in Charge of the police station were suspended for their negligence.
