Imphal, July 01: Three suspected PLA cadres were killed in an encounter with a combined force of Imphal East commandos and troops of 32 Assam Rifles at Laphupok-pi near the foothills of Baruni at about 4.30 pm today.

On receiving information that some armed UG cadres summoned some civilians there and sent them back after thrashing them, the combined force moved into the area.

As the armed cadres who were already there opened fire towards the security personnel, there was an encounter between the two sides resulting in the killing of three UG cadres, informed police sources.

One AK-47 rifle, 56 live rounds, two 9 mm pistols loaded with two live rounds each, one lethod bomb, a TED bomb, four empty magazines of M-16 rifles and hamper set were recovered from the three slain cadres.

From the side of the combined force, two rocket shells were fired.

The three corpses have been deposited at RIMS morgue for identification and post mortem.