Imphal, October 03 2009: Three suspected cadres of KYKL (MDF) were shot dead and one police commando was injured in an alleged encounter between a group of the MDF cadres and Bishnupur district police commandos that took place at Leimaram Shanti Bazar under Nambol Police Station at about 5.45 pm today.

The dead bodies of the three suspected cadres of MDF have not yet been brought to RIMS Hospital till late tonight, and their identities are not yet known.

Police reportedly recovered one M-16 rifle, one lethod gun and one AK-47 rifle from the deceased cadres.

However, police are yet to give an official statement about the encounter.

The police commando, who is in fact an IRB rifleman attached to Bishnupur police commando, who reportedly sustained injury during the encounter, has been identified as one Gingouthang (25).He hails from Perasamon village in Churachandpur district.

He was brought to RIMS Hospital where he has given treatment for some time, then he has been referred to Shija Hospitals.

One bullet struck his right arm which pierced and entered his chest, where it has been lodged till late tonight.

However, hospital sources said, his condition is not critical.

Reports culled from the spot said that a white colour Maruti car came from the direction of Sadhu Chiru towards Leimaram Shanti Bazar around 5.45 pm today.

A team of Bishnupur police commandos, who happened to be conducting frisking and checking operation there, ordered the car to stop.

The car pulled up at the side of the road.

Immediately, some armed persons suspected to be cadres of the same group who appeared to be following and protecting the car in a DI-Tata behind started opening fire several rounds to attack the police commandos.

The police team immediately retaliated and an encounter ensued for a few minutes.

One of the police commandos told reporters at the spot that one person suspected to be cadre of MDF was killed in the encounter.

One M-16 rifle was recovered from his body.

Police have recovered the DI-Tata and the Maruti car which were abandoned by the armed persons.

Police said, the white colour Maruti car 800 belongs to a pressman who is working for a newspaper published in Imphal.

After the underground cadres had retreated from the place of encounter, a large reinforcement of police commandos and troops of 12 Maratha Light Infantry arrived there.

The combined force was divided in different groups and chased the underground cadres.

The troops conducted search operations at Irengbam, Leimaram Khunjao, Leimaram Mamang, Maning and Makha Leikai and Heinoubok.

People from nearby areas heard sounds of gun fire and explosions around 7.30 pm.

The sound of gun shots was heard till about 10 pm.

On contacting a police commando engaged in the operation on mobile phone, he said, two more UGs had been killed in encounter making the total number of UGs killed three.

Police did not allow civilians including press men to enter Leimaram village.

Further details are awaited.