Imphal, April 22: The battle for Sajik Tampak between the security forces and the proscribed PLA is still raging as it entered the fourth day today, with still no official news from the army on the casualties suffered by either side.

Battle began early morning on April 19 and with the rebels still holding out and giving stiff resistance to the security personnel, additional forces have been rushed in by helicopters and trucks.

A spokesman of the PLA informed The Sangai Express that so far 30 Indian soldiers have been killed and 30 weapons recovered.

Refuting the claim issued by PIB Defence Wing that 20 PLA cadres were killed in the fight, the spokesman said that it is cheap propaganda.

Till date the PLA has not suffered any casualty, claimed the spokesman and added there are witnesses to testify this.

The PLA will in a convenient time spell out the details of the encounters, he added.

According to another source, the security personnel pressed three helicopters into service today.

Seven army vehicles were also used today.

The Indian army have not been able to take control of Sajik Tampak, added the source.

In a statement issued last night, PIB Defence Wing, quoting reliable sources, had said that approximately 20 militants have been killed/wounded in a fight with the security force on April 21.The PIB Defence Wing statement further claimed that five militants were killed on April 19.Expectedly a number of inhabitants of Sajik have fled for safer climes with the fighting showing no signs of subsiding.

Villagers from Sajik and nearby villagers informed that so far the security personnel have suffered some setbacks with nine killed while one militant has been killed.

However with the army authority maintaining a studied silence over the matter, only three army men including one Captain have been confirmed killed in the fierce gun fight.

Sajik Tampak is the base camp of three major underground outfits, the PLA, UNLF and PREPAK.

The KCP and the ZDV have also set up camps in this area.

Armed with strict instructions from the Centre, security forces were pressed into service at Sajik Tampak to flush out the rebels and smash their camps.

As part of the operation conducted, security personnel have put up a number of check posts on the road leading to Sajik Tampak.

The security forces have also constructed a helipad at Sajik Tampak area to facilitate airdropping, and airlifting troops.

Process of building an army camp at Sajik Tampak has also started.

Air dropping of troops and heavy artillery have been taken up on a war footing.

The operation is being jointly launched by the Sikh Light Infantry, Kumaon Regiment and Madras Regiment.

The security forces have occupied the play ground at Sajik Tampak and have stock piled the place with sophisticated weapons.

Troops have also opened a temporary camp at the Sugnu Higher Secondary School and the requirements are being sent to the troops at Sajik Tampak from this camp.

Since the battle began, about 10 trucks have been, leaving daily for Sajik Tampak from Sugnu with additional forces.

Helicopters have been pressed into service to airlift the injured as well as to drop additional forces at the place of the conflict.

Reports from the spot of the incident said that the security forces have been raining bullets and bombs at places suspected to shelter the militants.

Helicopters are also being used for aerial survey of the area.

However the security force are yet to actually reach the stronghold of the rebels.

According to a villager of Sajik Tampak who personally witnessed the gun duel between the security force and the PLA, on the first day of the encounter, three security, personnel were killed.

The people saw the bodies being carried away in a pick up truck of the army, he added.

The villager further said that on the second day of the encounter, six security personnel were killed while one militant was killed.

Some security personnel were also injured, he said and added that all the injured were air lifted by a helicopter and treated at the army hospital at Sugnu.

The first day of the encounter between the army and the PLA cadres took place at Molphei village and further informed that a number of villagers of Agiyang, Bolchang, Bongpiyang and Molnom have fled their homestead, ever since the fight broke out.

Four check posts have been set up between Sugnu and Sajik Tampak.

Travellers taking this route are checked and frisked thoroughly by the security personnel at this check post, said the villager.

Some army personnel posted at the place have also taken ill, he added.

Army authority has also instructed all the shop keepers of Sajik Tampak and Sugnu to inform them (security force) of their stock position as well as the details of the sale such as the customers.

The sales report has to be submitted everyday.

It has been made compulsory for all shoppers taking their ware to Sajik Tampak to get their cash memo signed by the army at Sugnu.

The cash memo then has to be shown to the army authority at Sajik Tampak.

A team of media persons who tried to make their way to Sajik Tampak to get some information were told to first get the requisite permission from the army post at Sugnu and the proposed trip was cut short at Sugnu itself.

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