Imphal, March 18 2009: An Army Officer killed while two other personnel sustained serious injuries in an encounter between the troops of 12 Maratha Li and militants at Oinam in Bishnupur district at around 9pm tonight.

The incident occurred when militants who exploded two bombs successively at the house of an Executive Engineer of LDA, Oinam Ibopishak, at Oinam Maning Leikai around 8.30pm making their way intercepted the troops on patrol duty.

Militants who tried to flee from the scene in a vehicle countered the patrolling party of the 12 Maratha Light Infantry posted at Maibam Lotpa Ching.

A heavy exchange of gunfire took place resulting to the death of the post commander of the 12 MLI camping at Maibam Lotpaching and injuries of two other personnel, the rpeort said.

Any casualties on the side of the militants could not be ascertained immediately.

The militants were said to have headed towards the Nambol and Oinam crossing.

Massive operations have been launched to trace the militants, the report said.

The slain post commander of the 12 MLI was later identified as Lieutenant Satvir Singh from Haryana while one of the injured personnel was Chandrakanta (28). The identity of the other injured personnel who has been evacuated at RIMS hospital could not be immidiately known.