Imphal, July 03: A cadre of the armed group PULF was gunned down by a combined force of Police Commandos and personnel of Assam Rifles after a brief encounter near Sekmaijin village in Thoubal district today morning.

According to police report, following a special tip off on the movement of armed UGs, Thoubal District Police Commandos and troops of 21 Assam Rifles conducted search operation in and around Sekmaijin area at around 4.30 am today.

After about 2 hours, some armed persons opened fire at the security team resulting in exchange of firing for a few minutes.

During the course of searching the area after the encounter, a body with bullet wound was found, police said,adding that the slain person is suspected to be a member of the armed outfit PULF and one point 38 US made pistol and five rounds of ammunition have been recovered from site.

Meanwhile, police have retrieved the body and deposited it at RIMS morgue for post-mortem.

PULF calls general strike: Taking strong exception to the killing of its project incharge Md Shalibudin alias Langamba s/o Md Manirdin by a combined force of police commandos and troops of Assam Rifles in the wee hours today, the armed group PULF has called a 24 hours general strike with effect from 12 midnight today, conveyed a press release issued by the outfit's publicity and information secretary Md PM Akbar while alleging that Md Shalibudin alias Langamba was shot dead in cold blood at a spot between Sekmaijin and Phoubakchao in front of all.