Imphal Jun 23 MNS UNA : At least six militants suspected to be cadres of NSCN K were Sunday killed during a security forces\u2019 operation in Manipur\u2019s Tamenglong district. Police suspect the killed militants to be cadres of NSCN (K).
\nSources said that the six militants were killed after a brief encounter with a combined force of 10 Assam Rifles, Paratroopers and Loktak Brigade in the forest located between K Shonglung and Khuman village in the interior Tamenglong district early this morning.
\nSecurity forces recovered four AK rifles, one M-16 rifle and one AF-3 rifles with a large quantity of ammunitions, the source said.
\nThe combined force had entered to the area from Kangchup side of Imphal West district yesterday afternoon to flush out the militants based on specific information that well armed cadres of a militant outfit were taking shelter in the area.
\nThe six militants were killed in a brief exchange of fire which reportedly lasted for 10 minutes, the source said, adding that the combined force intercepted with the militants in their further operation after armed militants opened fire towards the troopers yesterday afternoon, around 4 pm.
\nThere was no report of casualty on both sides in the first encounter and the second encounter took place after the combined force moved further to track down the militants who escaped after the first encounter.
\nA team of Sapermaina police station of Senapati district has moved to the place where the encounter took place to collect the dead bodies and necessary investigation. The team was likely to reach the place tomorrow morning as apart from locating at a far off distance, the place has a bad road communication system.
\nEven though K Shonglung village is in Tamenglong district, the area of operation lies within the jurisdiction of Sapermaina police station of Senapati district
\nHowever, police quoting the army source suspect the slain militants belonging to the NSCN (K), the faction maintaining ceasefire trust with the government of India.<\/p>\n\n