7 Suspected NSCN-K Militants Killed by Army in Encounter in Nagaland

Kohima:  Seven suspected militants belonging to the NSCN-K were killed by the Army in an encounter in Nagaland along the India-Myanmar border on Wednesday. Two civilians were also killed in the gunbattle.

The Army’s 12 Para Commandos and 46 Assam Rifles launched a joint operation in Phek district’s Awankhu area late on Wednesday after getting reports about the movement of militants from the banned National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang in the area.

“During the operation, the security forces came face to face with a group of armed NSCN-K cadres. They started firing on our forces leading to retaliation from our side. The firing continued for about one hour,” an Army spokesman said.

An Army officer reportedly sustained bullet injuries on his leg during the operation.

Two AK series rifles and a large quantity of ammunition were recovered from the militants.

Security forces have intensified their operation against the NSCN-K, which abrogated the ceasefire agreement with the central government in March and attacked an Army convoy in Manipur in June, killing 18 soldiers and injuring 11 others.

Four days later, in a daring operation, India’s Special Forces went across the border and destroyed two militant camps in Myanmar, killing as many as 50 rebels.