Imphal, April 12 2009: Security forces today launched a massive operation in the Loktak lake to flush out underground elements, killing one rebel in shoot out.

The operation was started late last night by the combined force of Imphal West and Bishnupur district police commandos, troops of 12 Maratha Light Infantry, 4/8 Gorkha Rifles and 7 Assam Rifles.

The operation was in progress till late this evening, according to a statement of the PIB (Defence Wing) .

The troops used some villagers for rowing boats.

But the villagers alleged that they were used as human shields by the security forces.

It was a part of the continuing counter insurgency operations which the security forces launched since the last one month.

Reports indicated that the operation was first launched from Bishnupur side last night around 10 pm after encircling the lake areas like Ethai, Keibul Lamjao, Arong Nongmaikhong and Ungamen pat.

During the massive operation, the security forces used two helicopters and un-manned aircraft vehicle (UAV).

A motorboat and 22 boats were also used by the security forces during the operation.

Intermittent sounds of gun fire, explosions and mortar shelling could be heard from around 8 am till 12.30 pm today, according to villagers.

The security forces fired mortar shells and bombs with guns towards the bushes in the lake.

Five huts including two said to have been used by the undergrounds were destroyed in the mortar shelling and bombing by the troops.

Villagers told mediapersons who visited some places near the Loktak lake that six of them were forced to row boats by the security forces and were used as human shields in the operation.

The six villagers were Khwairakpam Budhi (55), Kh Joykumar (45), Haobijam Herojit (38) of Ethai Bazar, Wangkhem Jillamacha (48), Moirangthem Dewan (38) and Salam Shyamchand of Nongmaikhong.

The security forces returned this afternoon with a dead body of a man said to be an underground cadre killed during the offensive.

The troops recovered an AK-47 rifle with ammunition from the slain UG cadre.

The troops also recovered one gas cylinder and some utensils said to have been used by the undergrounds taking shelter in the lake areas.

The identity of the slain man is yet to be established.

Meanwhile, villagers of Keibul Lamjao have expressed fear of killing Sangai during the operation while recalling that in the earlier incidents also they had found killing of the deer.

The operation was launched by the troops of the 57 Mountain Division along with Bishnupur police commandos, said a PIB (Defence Wing) statement which claimed destroying large and well constructed hideout of PREPAK in the marshy lake areas of Nongmaikhong.

The statement also further said that the raid was the third of its kind in the lake of Loktak and resulted in the recovery of automatic weapons, assorted ammunitions, explosives IEDs and propaganda material to include pamphlets and CDs.

It further claim that inputs were provided by the villagers who fed up with the excessive carried out by the militants and who expressed strong desire for peace and tranquility to prevail in the state, free from fear and kidnapping of children.

The statement credited the success of the "extremely difficult and complex operation" to the high levels of training and closed coordination between the security forces and Bishnupur district commandos.

Major General Shakti Gurung, general officer commanding 57 Mountain Division was personally involved in coordination the operation.

He also congratulated all troops of the Army and police for the "well planned and executed operation".

He also thanked the local population of Bishnupur district for their willing support and underscored the prime role of the Indian Army to restore normalcy in the state, the PIB (defense wing) statement stated adding that the operation to flush out the UGs from the lake area are still in progress.