New Delhi - At least seven separatist rebels were killed in three separate encounters with security forces in India's north-eastern state of Manipur, a news report said Friday. Police said three unidentified militants were shot dead Thursday in a gunbattle with police and army forces in the Imphal West district, 50 kilometres west of the state capital, Imphal.
"The raid was conducted after getting specific information that some rebels were hiding in the area," an unnamed police official was quoted by the IANS news agency as saying. "Rifles and grenades, besides a large cache of ammunition, were recovered from the dead militants."
Four more rebels were killed in the Imphal West and Bishenpur districts Thursday in two other encounters.
"Security forces recovered AK-47 rifles and other weapons from the militants who were shot dead after a long encounter," army spokesman Colonel LM Pant told the news agency, adding that the identity of the rebels was not immediately known.
Security forces in Manipur have stepped up counterinsurgency operations after separatists killed five paramilitary troopers Wednesday in an ambush near Imphal.
The People's Revolutionary Army of Kangleipak, a rebel group fighting for an independent homeland for the majority Metei community, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Manipur, which borders Myanmar is one of India's north-eastern states worst-hit by separatist violence. Nineteen militant separatist organizations are active in Manipur with demands ranging from secession to autonomy.
According to government data, more than 10,000 people have lost their lives to the insurgency in Manipur during the past two decades.
