A self-styled commander-in-chief of the United People’s Revolutionary Front (UPRF), Mangin khalhau also known as “Veeraappan” 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 fight leaving the group leaderless. It is said that 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 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 encounters and several others who have surrendered in the past one year.
The body has been sent to Diphu for postmortem autopsy. “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.
