Imphal, January 24: A brief encounter ensued between personnel of Imphal East police and well armed militants at Itham village today.

No one was however injured in the shoot out.

In a statement police said that based on specific information that some well armed UGs were present at Itham Village, a team of the Imphal East Dist police rushed to the area and conducted search operation.

During the course of the operation the security personnel were fired upon by well armed militants at Itham Mayai Leikai Chingkhong.

Although taken by surprise, the security personnel immediately retaliated and a fierce encounter took place for about 15/20 minutes after which the militants fled the scene.

Following the encounter the security personnel cordoned off the area and conducted a search operation resulting in the arrest of three women.

The three arrested women have been identified as Wahengbam Tilotama Chanu alias Tama (24) d/o W Bhomishore Singh of Lilong Arapti Mayai Leikai a hardcore woman cadre of the proscribed outfit UNLF and the others as Mongjam Bharat Devi (26) d/o M Ibopishak Singh of Nongpok Keithelmanbi and Moirangthem Ningol Ahanthem ongbi Sunolata Devi (40) w/o (L) A Gandhi Singh of Chingmeirong Lei Ingkhol.

During interrogation Tilotama (army No 1041) revealed that she joined UNLF in 1999 through one S/S Corpl Sanahanbi of Taretkhul and underwent three months training in eastern Nagaland in October of the same year under one (L) S/S M Puremba Four jackets, seven small carry bags, six haversacks, photographs, two shoes, incriminating documents etc were recovered from the three women.

Later in the afternoon, the same security personnel arrested two KYKL cadres during a search from near Monkon Village and recovered two demand letters from the them, informed police.

The arrested duo have been identified as Ningthoujam Subol Singh (30) s/o (L) N Meino Singh of Nongbram Makha Leikai and Pangambam Tomba Singh (38) s/o (L) P Leiren Singh of Yairipok Nongbram.

During intense interrogation, the duo disclosed that out of the nine demand letters that were handed over to them for distribution seven had already been served to seven individuals residing in Imphal East Dist.

One jeep (MNP 8854) and one NV Scooter were also recovered from a place between Monkom Village and Nongbram Village by the security personnel during search operation today.

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