Imphal, March 22 2010: Troops of 5 Assam Rifles of the 57 Mountain Division have gunned down four cadres of a relatively unknown armed group called United Tribal Liberation Army in an encounter near Longpi village of Nungba sub-division in Tamenglong district.

A PIB (DW) release said a fierce gun-battle ensued from around 2.30 am today during the course an operation conducted by the 5 AR troops.

after cessation of the gun-fight the para-military troops recovered four bodies, one AK-47 rifle and two SLRs, the release detailed adding that UTLA leader James Singson is among the four killed.

Recounting that the UTLA cadres were involved in the raid and looting of huge cache of arms and ammunition from the Chekarcham police outpost in Cachar district of Assam on November 13 last, it asserted that troops of the red Shield division had been relentlessly pursuing the outfit.

A number of UTLA cadres were arrested and large number of arms and ammunition recovered from them in previous operations, the PIB (DW) release added.

Meanwhile, our Tamenglong correspondent informed that further search operations are being conducted by the AR troops in and around the encounter site.

Three of the victims are yet to be identified.