Imphal, March 08, 2010: Atleast two personnel of the 15 Assam Rifles are feared to have been killed following a fierce gun-battle with armed persons, suspected to belong to the RPF's armed wing - PLA, in a Chandel district hill range.

the gun-fight broke out at around 6.30 am today in Warok Hills, east of Salungpham village, which lies between Thoubal and Chandel districts.

Information received from neat the encounter site suggest that the shoot-out lasted for about 20 minutes at the Warok Hill range, situated north-east of Thoubal police station.

As per comment of Momlou Ringpam village chief Shinglai Yarteo (55), about 100 armed persons suspected to be PLA cadres holding sophisticated weapons and in combat uniforms were seen heading towards the nearby Warok Hills in the early hours.

Soon after arrival of Assam Rifles a fierce battle ensued at about 6.30 am during which sounds of bomb explosion were also heard, he maintained.

Momlou, who said he was out of the village at the time the clash broke out, quoted villagers as saying that two AR personnel were carried away in an ambulance after cessation of gunfire.

On the otherhand, information received from the Assam Rifles maintained that troops of 15 AR were involved in the clash as the troopers advanced towards Warok hill-range to flush out UG cadres.

One AR personnel got killed and another suffered injuries when the PLA cadres opened fire at the advancing troops, the AR source informed.

informed sources also conveyed that both the AR personnel were evacuated from the Thoubal district battalion headquarters of the 15 AR in a helicopter to Leimakhong military camp.

When media persons reached Salungpham village AR troops could be seen taking position at the nearby hill range.

There is no report of harassment against the villagers who also informed that shortly after the gun-fight ended forest fire broke out at the hill-range above Tolen and Maryland villages.

At around noon, additional AR reinforcement arrived in two vehicles.

Mention may be made that on March 2 morning sporadic encounters raged between a combined security team and armed persons suspected to be PLA cadres at Maryland and, Warok and Tolen village areas.