Imphal, Sept. 9: Manipur police commandos are at the centre of a storm again after gunning down six persons, four of whom have been identified and are said to be innocent.

The incident took place last night in Imphal West district as protests continued to singe the state over an alleged fake encounter on July 23.

Yesterday’s incident was the first strike by commandos of Imphal West after the July 23 episode in which a pregnant woman and Ch. Sanjit, a former militant, were killed in Imphal city.

The police shot dead six persons — two riding a motorcycle and four others in a Tata Sumo — at Awang Khunou Lamkhai along NH 53 in Imphal West around 10.30pm.

Senior SP, Imphal West, L. Kailun, said that when a police frisking party asked the two motorcycle-borne youths and a Tata Sumo to stop, they tried to speed away by firing at the police. “The police had to retaliate which led to the encounter,” he said.

Four of them were identified as Ngaseppam Danny, 27, a resident of Khwairakpam Leikai, his friend, Kshetrimayum Govind, 28, of neighbouring Hodam Leirak in Imphal West, Md Tomba, 35, and Md Rahman, 38, both residents of Golapati in Imphal East.

Families claimed Danny and Govind were mobile recharge card hawkers, Tomba a rickshawpuller and Rahman a Tata Sumo driver. While Danny and Govind were coming on a motorcycle the other four were found dead inside a Tata Sumo.

The bodies of two, who are yet to be identified, have been kept at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences here.

The commandos also claimed to have recovered an M16 rifle with 62 live rounds and three 9mm pistols from them.

Residents of Hodam Leirak and Kwairakpam Leikai held a meeting, formed a joint action committee and demanded a judicial inquiry.

Bilashini Devi, mother of Govind, and Chaoba Devi, mother of Danny, said the two went out together on Govind’s motorcycle last evening to collect money from people to whom they had sold recharge cards. “My son is innocent and had no link with any outfit. It was a fake encounter. I want justice,” Chaoba Devi cried.

The committee is planning to take up the matter with local MLA L. Jayentakumar Singh, who is also the education minister. They will then petition chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh. “We will not accept the bodies until the demands are met,” Salam Sarat, president of Hodam Lairembi Club, said.

Apunba Lup said the six were killed in fake encounters.

Residents of Awang Khunou also staged a sit-in at the site of the killing today to protest the incident. “We heard gunshots around 10.30 last night. No one went out in fear. The six were killed in the same place and we suspect that it was a fake encounter. Shots were also fired at some of the houses,” N. Mani Singh, president of Awang Khunou Sporting and Youth Organisation, said.

Meena Rashi, wife of Tomba, said her husband told her over the mobile phone around 9pm that unknown persons caught him while he was delivering firewood at the Games Village of Imphal West. “When I called him again around 10.30pm, the phone was switched off,” she said.

The All Manipur Rickshaw Drivers and Pullers Welfare Association president, A.K. Kom, said the association would chalk out the agitation course. Kom claimed Tomba was innocent.

“We are asking the government how the killings took place. If it failed to tell us, we will launch an extreme form of agitation. It was a fake encounter,” Hangkholun Helun, president of Kuki Students Organisation, Ukhrul unit, warned.