Imphal, March 06: Stepping up the offensive against militants, State Police forces and Assam Rifles personnel today killed at least three underground activists and arrested two others from different parts of the State besides recovering a huge cache of arms and ammunition.

One KNA activist was reportedly killed during an encounter with a combined force of Imphal West District police, Commandos and personnel of 14 Assam Rifles at Kanglatombi at about 3 am today.

One 9 mm pistol without number, 9 live rounds, one empty case of 9 mm ammunition and two HE hand grenades were recovered from the slain cadres, according to Additional Director General of Police (L/O) Y Joykumar Singh.

The office officer, however, did not identify the slain KNA activist.

In another strike, Imphal West District Police along with a large combined force of civil police officers, commandos, personnel of Ist and 2nd IRB as well as Ist and 2nd MR battalion killed two cadres of the proscribed KCP outfit during a search operation and subsequent shoot out at Kitna Panung near Bashikhong at about 4.30 am today, Addl DGP (L/O) said in a statement.

The combined team led by the SP of Imphal West recovered one 9 mm pistol (Norinco, made in China bearing no.PARA 188854) along with one magazine, four live rounds and one Chinese made hand grenade from the slain KCP cadres, the police officer informed.

The Additional DGP further informed that in yet another operation led by the SP of Imphal East K Chandramani, Imphal East district police personnel apprehended one hardcore member of UNLF from Khalok Kom Village under Heingang Police Station at about 3 am today.

The police officer identified the arrested UNLF member as self styled corporal Yumlembam Sanjit Singh alias Tomba alias Samochandra (27) s/o late Chandra Singh of Khurai Nandeibam Leikai, Salanthong.

Sanjit joined the outfit in October 1998, his army number is 1420 (corporal) and is working in the finance section of the outfit, the police officer said, informing that all these information were disclosed by the arrested activist during interrogation.

In Thoubal district too, an operation was launched at Wabagai Makha Leikai by the SDPO Thoubal and police commandos at about 5.30 am today and succeeded in arresting an activist of PREPAK along with arms and ammunition, the police officer said.

The arrested PREPAK activist has been identified as Wairekpam Naresh alias Naoba (22) s/o W Birakumar of Wabagai Mayai Leikai, the police officer said, adding that Naresh belongs to the general secretary group of the outfit and works under one Subhas.

Naresh joined PREPAK in December 2004 and is involved in exhorting money from the shops of Kakching Bazar.

One US carbine bearing number 3 AL CAL 30 MK 2 and one magazine with 10 live rounds were also seized from his possession, Joykumar added.

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