Imphal, Manipur, July 17 (HBTV): At least three suspected Hmar militants were killed and three police personnel were injured in a fierce encounter in Cachar district of Assam on Wednesday, officials said.

The deceased militants were part of a larger group that allegedly was preparing to carry out "subversive activities" along the Assam-Manipur inter-state border areas, a senior Assam Police official said. 

Addressing a press conference later, Cachar Superintendent of Police (SP) Numal Mahatta said police received an input regarding movement of suspected militants at Krishnapur road under Kachudharam Police Station. 

"A police team rushed to the location. Accordingly, three persons were arrested along with sophisticated weapons near Ganganagar while on way towards Bhuban Hills in an autorickshaw," he added.

Mahatta said that as per preliminary investigation, the apprehended trio was members of a Hmar extremist organisation and trained cadres. Two of them were from Cachar and one was from Chrachandpur in Manipur.

From them, an AK-47 rifle, one single barrel rifle, and a pistol along with live ammunition were recovered, he added. 

"During interrogation, they revealed that some of their cadres were hiding in a nearby jungle in Bhuban Hills and were planning to carry out some subversive activities along Assam-Manipur border with a huge cache of arms," the police superintendent said. 

Subsequently, a special operation was launched led by the district additional SP along with commandos in the Bhuban Hills side for apprehension of the suspected militants and the security team was being led by the apprehended culprits, he added.    

"The moment we reached there, they started indiscriminate firing. There were 6-7 militants hiding behind the bushes. Police team immediately took their positions and retaliated. There was heavy exchange of fire from both the sides," Mahatta said.  

The apprehended militants were wearing bulletproof jackets and helmets. They sustained grievous injuries during the encounter and were immediately shifted to Sonai primary health centre and later were shifted to Silchar Medical College and Hospital, where the attending doctor declared them dead, the official said.  

Mahatta said three police personnel were severely injured during the gunfight and were admitted to the hospital.   

‘About 6-7 suspected militants hiding in the difficult hilly terrain managed to flee from the spot towards the dense forest taking the cover of darkness and uneven terrain,’ Mahatta said.The police recovered one more AK assault rifle along with live ammunition and a number of empty cases, he added.

"The entire area has been cordoned off by security personnel and a search operation is being carried out in search of the fleeing militants. I have visited the place of occurrence and security forces have been deployed in the entire area," the SP said.  

The deceased militants have been identified as one Lallungawi Hmar (21), a Lalbikung Hmar (33), and one Joshua (35), who hailed from Manipur.