Imphal, September 18: Four suspected militants were killed in two separate incidents today.

While three of them were killed by a team of Imphal West police commandos in the heart of the city at Thangal bazar, another one was killed at Keirao Bitra under Irilbung police station by a combined team of Imphal East police commandos and 32 Assam Rifles.

A statement issued by the SSP of Imphal West police, L Kailun, said that on receiving specific inputs that some armed militants have entered Thangal bazar area at about 4.30 pm to extort money from the shop owners and business men a team of Imphal West police commandos led by one Sub-Inspector rushed to the area and conducted a search operation.

During the course of the search operation near Hotel Anand Continental, the police team saw 3/4 persons running toward a galli on the eastern side, opposite to Niranjan Philips Store, said the statement.

The police party immediately gave a chase and asked them to stop, said the SSP and added that instead of stopping one of them pulled out a grenade and tried to hurl it at the police team.

The police commandos immediately retaliated and in the retaliatory firing three of them were killed while the rest escaped.

During the spot verification, the police team came across the three bodies and recovered two Chinese made hand grenades, added the police.

The bodies which bore multiple bullet injuries have been retrieved and are being kept at RIMS morgue for post mortem and identification.

As news of the incident spread, all shops located nearby downed shutters and people ran helter skelter for cover.

The place of the incident was cordoned off for some time after the shooting incident.

Security has been beefed up following the incident.

A combined team of Imphal East police commandos and 32 Assam Rifles also gunned down a suspected militant today at about 6.05 pm at Keirao Bitra under Irilbung police station in Imphal East.

According to police, one 9 mm pistol along with four live rounds and three empty case were recovered after the gun fight.

On receiving specific inputs about the movement of militants in and around Keirao Bitra, a combined team of Imphal East police commandos and 32 Assam Rifles personnel rushed to the said area, said police.

The team approached Keirao Bitra from the side of the road which leads to the Manipur Adventure Allied Sports Institute, near the BDO office.

Even as the combined team was approaching the road, three armed youths opened fire towards them, said police and added that they also returned fire killing one of them on the spot.

The other two managed to escape.

The body has been retrieved and kept at RIMS morgue.