Imphal, November 11 2008: ASSAM RIFLES gunned down at least two rebels said to belong to KYKL outfit in a clash occurred during a search operation launched at Wangoo Sabal village under Sugunu police station this early morning at around 3.30 am.

A personnel of the Assam Rifles also hurt in the clash, official source said.

In other militancy related incidents, houses of a zonal education officer and secretary of a bazaar board were under attacks by the rebels suspected to be PREPAK at Wabagai area in Thoubal district.

The attacks, according to police related with extortion demands.

There were no reports of casualties in the militants firings.

One of the militant killed by the troops of 7 Assam Rifles at Wangoo Sabal was later identified as a bail out cadre of the KYKL named Indrajit alias Jackson (28) of Wangoo Nungai Sabal village, a village at the neighbouring to spot where the encounter took place.

The other one was identified as Salam Esheihanba (25) of Laphupat Tera.

The clash occurred at a house when the Assam Rifles troops intruded to the house for conducting a search operation based on a tip-off early this morning at around 3.30 am, Assam Rifles source said adding that two 9mm pistol along with five live rounds of ammunitions and a scooter (Kinetic Honda brand) were recovered from the encounter side.

The official report said the two rebels who have been taking shelter at the house were shot dead when they attempted to run away on the back side of the house when the troops intruded to the house started cordon off the house from the front side.

On seeing the two running away from the house, the troops chased after by firing as a result both of them killed there.

They also rounded up three male members of the family.

Later they were release after verification, the report added.

Police while entered to the area to retrieve the dead bodies also said that some bullet hit marks were found at the wall of the house where the clash took place.

Four empty cases were also recovered from the nearby the spot where the dead bodies were found lying.

A statement of the PIB defense wing said that in the brief clash which occurred when the troops intruded into the area based on specific information, a personnel of the AR also suffered casualty.

He has been evacuated at Leimakhong Army Hospital and his condition is out of danger.

In other militancy related incidents, houses belonging to a zonal education officer, named Mayengbam Kumar of Wabagai Tera Pishak village posting at Kakching of Thoubal district and a secretary of the Wabagai Bazar named Mayengbam Ibochouba of Wabagai Awang Leikai, neighbouring village to the former were under attack by firing guns by suspected cadres of a group PREPAK.

Both the attacks were related with monetary demand served by the group from them, police said quoting the statement of the owners of houses today.

ZEO Kumar reportedly informed the police that he has been under pressure from the group to deduct some percentage from the monthly salaries of the staffs of his office and pay to them in which he refused.

Secretary of the Wabagai Bazar Board, Ibochouba also reportedly disclosed that the group has been insisting him to collect money from the shops at Wabagai Bazar and pay to them.

Even though bullets hit to the wall of the houses, there were no reports of any casualties on the members of the houses of both the persons, police said.

Decrying the attacks, villagers of the two villages also carried out sit-in protest today their respective villages, the report added.

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