9 militants nabbed in Manipur

Imphal, Sep 17: Security forces shot dead a militant leader in an operation and nabed nine militants of five different outfits in separate incidents in Manipur.

Troops of 44 Assam Rifles (AR) gunned down Vice-chief of the proscribed outfit People's United Liberation Front (PULF) (Farooq faction) identified as Amir Khan, in an ambush laid on a tip off at Chandel district.

The Assam Rifles sources said jawans of 26 Sector under HQ IGAR (South) had launched the operation led by its Commandant in the area. Troops later spotted a number of rebels moving towards Lai Ching Minao from Soura village side and challenged them.

The militants, however, opened fire on the AR, who retaliated by killing the leader, while another managed to escape, the sources said adding that one AK-56 rifle, a magazine and 11 rounds of live ammunition have also been recovered .

The slain insurgent was involved in killing altogether 25 civilians and launching ambushes against troops on many occassions.

The Imphal West SP Clay Khongsai said during a search operation, conducted by a combined team of Imphal West and Imphal East commandos at Babupara, one KYKL cadre and one NSCN(IM) activist were apprehended.

The police official said two cadres of PLA outfit were also arrested by a combined team of Imphal West commandos and troops of 32 AR from the capital. In another incident a combined force of 32 and 15 Assam Rifles had launched a joint operation and apprehended two cadres of the newly formed outfit, Kuki International Front(KIF). One country-made SB Rifle muzzle, loaded, and five live rounds of AK-47 ammunition have been recovered from them.

In the other operation, troops of 19 Assam Rifles apprehended three KYKL activists during an operation. One 9mm pistol and four live rounds of 9mm have been recovered from their possession.

UNI