Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 17:
In a pre-dawn swoop, four suspected militants were shot dead by BSF personnel during a fierce encounter lasting for more than one hour at Umathel in Thoubal district early today.
BSF DIG Manipur and Nagaland PK Mishra who visited the site of the encounter in the morning told reporters that the operation was carried out after receiving a tip-off that some militants would be passing through the area.
BSF personnel, who were deployed to intercept the militant movement waylaid the militants who were wielding sophisticated weapons at Aihang village near Umathel while one personnel was posted at Umathel for first hand information, the DIG said.
He said that the militants started firing from automatic weapons when they were asked by the troops to stop.
The BSF troops also retaliated the fire and in the ensuing encounter the four militants were shot dead.
The encounter began around 11.45 pm last night and continued till 1 am today, he added.
During the gun battle several tracer lights were also fired by the BSF personnel.
Three bodies were recovered at Umathel while another was found near the hill slopes.
All of them were in combat fatigues, the DIG said.
Two magazines of AK series rifles along with 23 live round and four bags of country liquor each contains around 15 pouches have been recovered from the spot during the search after the encounter, the DIG said.
The bodies have been handed over to police.
The BSF DIG further termed the operation as a �clear one� as no civilian or BSF personnel were injured or killed.
He also lauded the operation commander identified as Gautam.
Search operations are still continuing in the area to track down the militants who had escaped, he added.
Sources said some of them could be civilian bootleggers.
It may be mentioned that BSF shot dead four militants on August 12 during an operation.
BSF conducted a search operation at Nambol Kongkham area from last night till 8 am today.
However, no one was arrested.
The operation was conducted following information that some 15 to 20 militants were taking shelter at a place at the area.
But the militants had already left, the DIG said.
He said BSF has received feelers from militants for surrender before the BSF.