Imphal, February 25: In a major offensive launched against militants, a combined team of Manipur police and Army raided six camps of four different outfits at Keibul Lamjao, the sanctuary of Sangai, and recovered a number of items including guns and ammunition.

Of the six camps two belonged to the UNLF, two to PREPAK, one to KCP and one to KYKL.

The items recovered from the camps include one M-16 rifle, one carbine, two pistols, 18 lethode bombs, one RPG, six hand grenades and a huge assortment of ammunition.

The camps were well stocked with gas cylinders, solar panels, inverter, blankets, bed sheets and adequate provisions.

From the clothings recovered from the camps, police believe that quite a substantial number of inmates were women cadres.

Interacting with media persons at Bishnupur police station, SP Clay Khongsai put on display the items seized from the busted camps.

The SP said that on receiving information that a number of militant groups had opened camps at Keibul Lamjao, a special operation was launched after midnight yesterday by a combined force.

The force which took part in the operation included Bishnupur commando, Imphal East, West and Thoubal commando, II IRB, 19 Garhwal Rifles, 12 Grenadiers, 11 Garhwal Rifles, 11 Assam Rifles and the 73rd Brigade based at Bishnupur.

The operation was conducted under the overall supervision of IG (LO-II) A Romenkumar.

The combined force surrounded the militants' hide outs from Khordak Ichin, Kumbi, Arong Nongmaikhong, Laphupat Tera, Keibul Sagram, Keibul Chingmei, from 1 am last night.

A select team of police force led by the Additional SP of Bishnupur Jayenta and Bpr commando OC Krishnatombi then made their way towards Keibul Lamjao National Park from early morning today.

As the commando team approached Keibul Lamjao a gun fight ensued between them and the militants holed up there at about 6 am.

The militants used sophisticated weapons, including lethod gun, M-16 and AK series rifles.

The commando team pressed on despite the stiff resistance and at about 9 am, when they inched their way towards the militants� camp, a bomb exploded.

The impact of the explosion hit one IRB man and one commando personnel throwing them off their feet.

The bomb was laid as a booby trap by the militants, said the SP adding that if all the force had entered the camp directly, there could have been some casualties.

Of the six camps raided, some had thatch roofing while some had plastic roofs.

The camps had wooden planks for flooring.

The SP further said that each camp may be able to accommodate twenty inmates at a time.

A number of women clothings were found inside the camps.

The commandos who made their way to the camp had to wade through thigh deep water.

As a bomb exploded in one of the camps, the police could not retrieve one Ak Rifle, two TV sets, VCD machine and provisions.

Among the seized items were receipt books of PREPAK, KCP and KYKL, informed the SP.

There was no casualty on the side of the combined force.

Blood stains were detected along the direction in which the militants escaped, said the SP.

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