Imphal, December 31 2008: A massive operation conducted by the security forces to flush out militants from Loktak Lake area of Bishnupur district in south Manipur since Tuesday evening ended on Wednesday afternoon with reports of heavy clash between the militants and the security forces.

However, there were no official reports of any casualties from both sides.

According to reports collected from the spot the clash took place in the wee hours of today at about 4 at Khongnangthabi Pat when security forces continued with their previous night's operation.

The clash reportedly lasted for over two hours.

However, the results of the flush out operation remains unclear as the media persons were restricted from entering into the area where the incident took place during the operation.

The operation had also caused inconvenience to passers by and fishermen living in and around the area.

Passenger vehicles passing the area were barred from passing through the adjoining roads by the security while the operation was underway while the fishermen and villagers of the area were restricted to step out of there homesteads thus delaying work.

The operation was jointly carried out by the Bishnupur district police commandos and 4/8 GR Rifle including Para commandos of the GR Rifle.

According to villagers, during the operation a helicopter was seen hovering around the area for a long time.

Further the sources revealed that Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), which the villagers described as a small plane, was also seen hovering around the area during daytime and also at night.

The sources also revealed that the combined forces used 12 (twelve) boats including four motor boats and sophisticated weapons which they saw for the first time and added that fishing net were also allegedly destroyed due to the operation.

According to unconfirmed sources the operation was carried out on the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and possibility of casualties was believed to be there on both sides.

However, the casualties could be higher for security forces, the source informed.

Meanwhile, a press release from the Press Information Bureau, PIB (Defence Wing) later in the evening informed that troops of 57 Mountain Division along with the Bishenpur police commandos destroyed a large and well constructed hideout of the KYKL in the inaccessible Loktak Lake in a pre-dawn raid on December 30.Stating that the raid was a second of its kind in the area the press note informed that the forces recovered automatic weapons, assorted ammunitions, explosives, landmines, IEDs, a Chinese grenade and propaganda materials which include pamphlets and CDs.

Two AK 56 rifles, 12 AK magazines, 174 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, 177 rounds of AK 56 ammunition, 50 rounds of 0.22 Ball ammunition, 20 UBGL grenade, 15 anti personal mines, one Chinese grenade, eight sets of combat uniform, one television, one generator, six gas cylinders, IED material and explosives, ruck sacks and pouches and other war like stores and three country boats, stated the press statement.

The press statement also informed that the hideout was in a well concealed area of Tharo Pat in Loktak Lake with six huts for stores and living besides one large hut which was possibly for training.

Thanking the villagers for their vital inputs on the hideouts, the press statement also held that the villagers were fed up with demands, the extortions and kidnapings carried out by the militants.

Further crediting a high level training and close coordination of the security forces and Bishenpur police commandos, the statement informed that a number of undergrounds were injured in the operation.

Major General Shakti Gurung, General officer commanding 57 Mountain Division were personally involved in the coordinating of the operation, informed the press statement.

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