Arunachal Pradesh : One NSCN-U militant killed

The encounter took place at Laptang village under Khonsa police station in Tirap district.

Kohima based Defence PRO Colonel Chiranjeet Konwer said that since the beginning of November reports of NSCN militants carrying out extortion activities in the region had been received and a proactive strategy was adopted by the security forces to deter the groups.

"Security forces under the aegis of DAO Division has been carrying out relentless operations to maintain peace and tranquility in the region. In a major operation launched by the Khonsa battalion of security forces, a hardcore NSCN-U militant was killed near Laptang village," the Defence PRO said.

Acting on specific intelligence about NSCN militabts carryout extortion from villagers in Laptang village, Assam Rifles Khonsa battalion swiftly launched an operation in the area.

"During search of the area, the column noticed a group of suspected militant trying to flee the scene. The party challenged the militants and asked them to surrender the fleeing militants opened fire on the column. Own column retaliating to the fire brought down controlled effective fire on the fleeing militant and eliminate one militant. The other militants were managed to escape using cover of dense foliage. Two more militants likely to be injured," the Defence PRO said.

During search the column found the hardcore militant who had succumbed to bullet injuries, a HK33 automatic rifle, large quantities of ammunition and other incriminating evidence was also recovered from the body.

The search of the area for the escaped militants is still in progress and identity of the neutralized militabt is being determined.