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

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

The army and the paramilitary Assam Rifles launched a joint operation late on Wednesday after getting reports that there were militants of the banned NSCN-K or National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang in Phek district.

At a security meeting earlier this month, officials had expressed concern over the kidnapping and forced recruitment of schoolboys from villages in the same district. The Army says when a patrol went to the area, they were shot at by the militants, who were in uniform.

"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.

"The operation has been carried out in support of the local population, who were being compelled by NSCN (K) to join their outfit."

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An Army officer was shot in his leg during the operation.

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

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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 last month, killing 18 soldiers and injuring 11 others.

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