Imphal, August 18 2009: Security forces and suspected militants exchanged gun-fire for about 30 minutes in an area behind Laphupat Tera under Mayang Imphal station this afternoon.

The gun-fight ensued when a combined team of Bishnupur police commandos, troops of 7 AR and 21 AR moved into the area, said a police source.

As the security team approached the area, there was a blaze of gun-fire, which was immediately retaliated, resulting in an exchange of gun fire which lasted for about 30 minutes.

Later, the combined security team overran a hut.

One LPG cylinder, a tarpaulin set, clothes, solar panel, battery, invertor and utensils.

According to articles recovered from the hut, around 10 people might be taking shelter there, the source said.

Saying that drops of blood were observed on the track away from the hut, the source claimed that there might be casualties or even death among the suspected UG cadres.

But this cannot be confirmed yet, added the source.