Imphal, February 26 2009: A massive search operations launched by the Central security forces in Tousang areas under Khoupum police station of Tamenglong district after a heavy gunfight between the troops of Assam Rifles and suspected militants of PREPAK and NNC (Naga National Council) yesterday, official said Thursday.

Meanwhile, in the militancy related incidents occurred in the last 48-hour, one suspected KCP militants gunned down by a combined force of police commandos and troops of Assam Rifles in Imphal east last night even as a bomb was found deposited at the house of an individual today morning.

Troops of 11 Assam Rifles engaged in gunfight with the militants suspected to be cadres of the PREPAK and NNC at Tousang under Khoupum police station along the Old Cachar road yesterday, a delayed report said here today.

A highly reliable report said that casualties suffered in both sides during the clash but officials refused to disclose the exact casualties on the AR side.

Troops entered to the area following tip-off of taking shelter cadres of the two underground outfits in Tousang and Joujangtek area in Tamenglong district.

Further massive search operations launched in the aftermath of the gunfight continued till late today but there were no report of rounding of militants or clash.

Meanwhile, after a gap of some days, a suspected underground was killed by the Imphal east police commandos in a joint operation with troops of 28th Assam Rifles last night at around 8.05 pm Thambal Meetei Leikai under Porompat police station in Imphal east in what they claim was encounter.

The combined force recovered a 9 mm pistol loaded with three live rounds of ammunitions from the slain suspect along with a demand letter of the KCP addressed to a government officer, police said.

Later, today the slain man was identified as one Yumnam Rakesh of Lilong Chajing.

Yet, another bomb hurled by suspected militants found at the house of an officer of the state fishery department named Md Khoyom at Keirao in Imphal east this morning at around 5.30 am.

Personnel of the state police bomb squad retrieved the hand grenade from the spot and disposed off at a safer place later, police added.

Comment