Assam's "Veerappan" Shot Dead, Police Point To Infighting

According to police, Mangin Khalhau who is also known as Veeraappan for his involvement in alleged wood smuggling, was the only senior member of the outfit that lost several leaders to police encounter.

A self-styled commander-in-chief of the United People's Revolutionary Front (UPRF) died on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday after being shot by his own cadres at Karbi Anglong districts in Assam's southern hills following an inside tussle leaving the group leaderless. According to police, Mangin Khalhau who is also known as Veeraappan for his involvement in alleged wood smuggling, was the only senior member of the outfit that lost several leaders to police encounter while several others surrendered over the past one year. On Sunday, a conflict broke out within the group over its internal issues at Khengpibung, a hilly terrain in the outskirts of Bokajan town, about 56 km from Karbi Anglong district headquarters Diphu and about 15 km from neighbouring state Nagaland's commercial hub Dimapur. "Mangin have received several rounds of bullets to his torso and was recovered dead by police Sunday morning. It is suspected that he was shot dead by his own cadres," police said.