By IANS
Imphal : Three separatist guerrillas were killed Saturday in a gunfight with police personnel in Manipur, officials said.
A police spokesman said the incident took place near Lamshang, about 11 km from state capital Imphal at around 10.30 a.m.
“We had prior information that some militants were trying to enter Imphal in a car. We had put roadblocks and were waiting for the car,” a police official told IANS requesting anonymity. The rebels, sensing trouble, fired at the police team and in retaliatory attacks all the three militants were shot dead.
“There were no casualties on our side. The identities of the militants are yet to be ascertained although we know for sure they belong to one of the valley rebel groups,” the official said.
Two AK-56 assault rifles were recovered from the militants.
Manipur, bordering Myanmar, is a hotbed of insurgency with 19 separatist groups active with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy. Most of the rebel groups in Manipur have bases in Myanmar from where they carry out their hit-and-run guerrilla strikes in the region.