Imphal, September 07, 2009: Three cadres of the armed group KYKL (MDF) including one suspected to be involved in the killing of a passenger bus driver have been reportedly shot dead by Bishnupur District Police Commandos during a encounter which broke out atop the hillock near Ningthoukhong Khunou today afternoon and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition.

On the other hand, at least four persons were reportedly killed during another 'shoot out' between armed cadres of the Kuki UG group KLA ,which is a signatory of Suspension of Operation (SoO), and troops of 12 Maratha Light Infantry near Mokot Chepu village under Litan Police Station in Ukhrul district at around 6.30 pm today.

28-year old Ngaseppam Basanta alias Ngongo of Nambol Thangtek Mamang Leikai, the driver of Sidaba Mapu Express, a passenger bus, was killed when unidentified armed persons opened fire at the bus at Phoubakchao Ikhai along Imphal-Churachandpur Road in the evening of September 1.The bus was coming from Imphal carrying passenger and heading to Churachandpur when it came under firing attack.

According to SP of Bishnupur district K Jayanta, three cadres of KYKL (MDF) including one who is suspected to be involved in the killing of the bus driver were killed during a shoot out stop the hillock near Ningthoukhong Khunou located in between Bishnupur and Churachandpur district in the afternoon today.

One AK-56 Rifles, one magazine loaded with eight live rounds of ammunition, three fired cartridges, one M-16 Rifles, one magazine loaded with 13 live rounds, two missed fire cartridges, one Austrian made pistol, one magazine loaded with two bullets, three Chinese made hand grenades, one ICOM Radio set and one mobile hand set have been recovered from the site of the encounter, the SP informed.

The SP said that after the incident of killing the driver, the district police have been on the trials of the killers.

On receipt of specific information, the District Police Commandos started launching a massive search operation at various places including Saiton, Nganukon, Kumbi Haotak villages since early morning today.

At around noon, the police commandos started climbing the hillock near Ningthoukhong Khunou, which is located around 1 kms to the south of Saiton-Watha Road.

As the Commando ascending on the slippery and overgrown hill track, one of the armed cadres suspected to be on sentry duty opened fire towards the approaching police commandos.

Soon after, the other armed cadres also started firing lethod bombs compelling the commandos to retaliate.

When the commando team reached the hill top, they came across three Khangpokshang (sheds) used by the armed cadres.

Rain coats blanket and other clothing items, utensils, one Geneset, seven unaddressed extortion note of KYKL (MDF) and one receipt book were found inside the sheds, the SP informed, adding that the sheds have been destroyed by the commandos.

The SP further said that from the local sources, it has been confirmed that the armed cadres who have taking shelter there were members of KYKL (MDF).

For the last four days, some 16 of them were staying there.

Their commander is suspected to be one Borajao alias Rex of Wangoo Sabal, who had been arrested many times in the past as a KYKL cadre.

In considering of the terrain of the area, the commandos returned back late in the afternoon even as reinforcement of 7 Assam Rifles troops rushed into the area, the SP said, while observing that recovery of extortion notes and receipt books indicate that the armed group has started extorting money from the people.

According to sources, out of the three slain persons, one of them is suspected to be one Thingnam Lukhoi s/o Ango of Kakching Khunou Umathel.

All the three bodies have been picked up by Kumbi police and deposited the same at RIMS's morgue.

In another incident, at least four people have been killed in a reported shoot-out between KLA cadres and troops of 12 Maratha Light Infantry.

Notably, the KLA is a party to the tripartite SoO pact involving both the State and Central Governments.

The shoot-out took place near Mokot Chepu village, located about one km away from Litan police station along Imphal-Ukhrul road at about 6.30 pm today.

Three KLA cadres and one civilian truck driver were killed in the gun-fight.

According to information received by press, 12 well armed KLA cadres were coming to meet family members/relatives at Mokot Chepu when they came across troops of 12 MLI on the way resulting in the shoot-out.

Another source claimed that all the 12 KLA cadres were apprehended by the 12 MLI.

While four of them have been slain, the remaining eight have been detained.

On being contacted, the PRO of IG AR (S) said that some incidents took place there but no details could be procured.

Further search operations were going on, he added.