Imphal, January 14 2010: An Assam Rifles jawan suffered a bullet wound on the head after an exchange of fire broke out today in Loktak Lake area when security forces launched cordon and search operation to flush out UGs taking shelter there.

Identifying the injured jawan as Yumnam Raju (24) of the 33 Assam Rifles, an informed source described the jawan's condition as serious.

Raju is reportedly undergoing treatment at Shija Hospital, Langol at the time of filing this report.

An injured Raju was airlifted from the operation site and brought to Kangla from where he was rushed to the private medical centre.

The latest flush-out operation after 'Operation Summer Storm' was jointly conducted by troops of Maratha Light Infantry and 33 Assam Rifles under the Army's 57th Mountain Division.

During the previous operation launched in April last, nine cadres of PREPAK were gunned down.

Locals told a group of newspersons that helicopter and mechanised boats (motorboats) were also used during the operation which was preceded by movement of security personnel in large volume from early morning at the periphery of the Loktak Lake such as Khordak, Nongmaikhong and Laphupat Tera, the same places which were covered when Operation Summer Storm was launched.

Information culled from the operation zones, indicate that while some troops maintained vigil near the water body, other columns moved in towards the Lake.

At around 11 am exchange of gunfire and bomb explosions were reportedly heard on the Khordak Awang Leikai side.

An elderly villager told the media team that sensing imminent gun-fight the children were prevented from attending school.

Till late evening, report has been received that the security force personnel were still continuing with the flush-out operation.