Imphal, January 15 2009: TROOPS OF 115 BSF gunned down two well-armed suspected militants of the proscribed Kangleipak Com�munist Party (MC) along with a civilian driver in an ambush laid near the Pidonnu hill not far from Nongada village in Imphal east district around 9.15 pm last night.

The BSF troops recovered some arms and am�munitions from the dead militants.

In another incident, a combined team of Manipur police commandos and 23 Assam Rifles shot dead another suspected militant in the wee hours today allegedly in an encounter near Seijang village in Imphal east, district.

The first incident took place near the Pidonnu hill close to Nongada , Shantipur village, around 0.20 km north east of Imphal under Lamlai police station.

Troops of 115 BSF ambushed the militants who came in a Mahindra pick, up truck (MN01K-9916) which is said to have been hijacked from a place.

Two young well-armed militants were killed during the ambush, which the BSF officials claimed was an en-counter, that lasted for more than an hour.

Along with them, one civilian driver who was later identified as one Yambem Sashikumar @ Boycha (25), son of Y Shamu of Khundrak-pam Awang Leikai in Imphal east district.

A driving licence was recovered from his person.

The BSF troops recovered one AK 56 rifle, three magazines with 64 live rounds, one lethod gun, six-lethod bombs, two China-made hand grenades, Rs 1070 in cash, one lighter, a damaged mobile handset along with two SIM cards (Airtel and Aircel) from the possession of the slain militants.

The troops believed that one of the militants had escaped from encounter site taking advantage of the darkness of the night as they recovered another blood stained jack�et from the spot.

In order to track down the escaped militant, the BSF troops also conducted a search operation in and around the village this morning..

However they couldn't trace him.

DIG BSF, G K Sharma, who personally visited the encounter site this morning while speaking to mediapersons, informed that they laid the ambush based on a specific information about the movement of the armed militants on the hidden route which connects various important destinations.

He said, the deceased militants could be cadres of KCP (MC) .

Though the identities of the two slain militants are yet to be estab�lished, sources informed that they could be cadres of KCP (MC), Lanjaba Unit-I, Cpl Ringo @ Raju and Pvt Ibomcha @ Athouba.

Family sources said the armed militants forced the civilian driver, Sashikumar at gun point to drive the pick up truck from his house at Khun-drakpam Awang Leikai.

He was en�gaged in the distribution of fuel for the mobile service provider Aircel's towers in the state.

The owner of the mini truck was found to be one Elangbam Joykumar of Uripok Khoisnam Leikai.

A lot of papers relating to Aircel company and some fuel cans were also found being carried by the mini truck.

In the other incident said to be an encounter, a combined force of Imphal east police commandos and 32 AR shot dead 'Tiger' @ Oinam Brojen (43), an important cadre of KCP near the cremation ground of Leimakhong Mapal around 3.40 am today.

Police said they recovered one 9 mm pistol and two live rounds from the possession of the slain militant.

The slain person hailed from Itham Moirang Purel in Imphal east district.

He was a 2nd Lieutenant of KCP, sources said.

According to reports received by this newspaper, he was taken away from the house of his wife, Keisa Mao at Taphou in Senapati district by three unknown persons in civil dress around 6.30 pm yesterday.

The unknown persons acted as though they were members of another KCP faction and abducted him.

at gun point in front of his wife, the reports said.

All the dead bodies have been kept at the RIMS morgue for identification.