Imphal, November 08: Troops of 4 Assam Rifles gunned down two suspected cadres of the KCP (P) at Phaknung village under Lamlai police station today at about 3 am.

In a statement, the PRO of IG Assam Rifles (South) said that the troops were put on alert at Phaknung area after District Commander of KCP (P) identified as S/S Sgt Choungamba alias Upendro disclosed during interrogation that two of his associates would be coming to Khurai through Phaknung hills in the wee hours of today.

Choungamba was arrested on November 7 by a mobile check post at Khurai-Lamlai road.

Based on the disclosure of Choungamba, 4 AR troops cordoned off Phaknung village early morning today at 3 and laid an ambush, said the statement.

When the two militants approached the ambush site, the AR men challenged them to stop, but the militants opened fire forcing the security personnel to retaliate, claimed the statement.

The Assam Rifles troops also retaliated and a brief encounter ensued for about 15 minutes in which the two KCP (P) cadres were killed, said the statement further.

Identifying the two deceased militants as S/S Pvt S Nabachandra and S/S Sgt Amar, the statement said that one AK-47 rifle, one .38 revolver, one magazine each of AK-47 and .38 revolver, one hand grenade, a large quantity of ammunition, one mobile Nokia and a WLL telephone, two demand letters signed by the KCP (P) finance secretary Nangang and incriminating documents were recovered from the slain cadres.

Assam Rifles said that Choungamba was handed over to Heingang police station yesterday itself.

According to police, one AK-47 rifle with four bullets, one .38 revolver with four bullets, one hand grenade, four bullets of .303 rifle, two bullets of UASA carbine, one WLL telephone, one Konica hand set, two demand letters of the KCP (P) on letter heads, one head phone, two carry bags and one driving license in the name of Salam Nabachandra son of S Tomba of Keibul Awang Leikai were recovered from the slain militants.

Police source said that the demand letters bore the signature of the commander of KCP (P) Leihanba Mangang.

The demand letters were however not addressed to anyone, said the source.

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