Imphal, January 24 2009: STATE GOVERNMENT has awarded cash reward of Rs five lakhs to Thoubal district unit of the Manipur police commando who killed five cadres of the separatists People Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) during an offensive in December last, official said Saturday.

The Manipur government has been awarding cash reward to district police personnel who successfully conducted counter insurgency operations.

On December 8, Thoubal district commandos conducted one such successful counter insurgency operations/ambush at Langathel village in Thoubal district.

Mention may be made that on the night of December 8, 2008 at around 7 pm, the Thoubal district police commandos rushed to Langathel village on getting information of hijacking a tata truck by some armed cadres of PREPAK with an intention to carry attack to the security forces.

The police commando team rushing to the village under the supervision of the district SP on seeing the tata vehicle coming out from the village signaled to stop but the armed cadres opened fire in a bid to escape from the security's hand resulting in a heavy exchange of fire at around 8.40 pm.

In the ensuing encounter five cadres of the PREPAK were killed and three-AK series rifles with ammunitions.

One letohd launcher gun (M-40) with eight lethod bomb cells and two grenades with detonators etc.

were seized from the slain cadres.

The reward of Rs 5 lakh has been awarded to the personnel involved in the successful operation of the day which resulted into the killing of PREPAK cadres and seizure of weapons/ammunitions.

The reward has been given to the police personnel after the state Cabinet under the chair of the state chief minister, O Ibobi Singh has approved to the matter, an official of the state home department said.