Imphal, Dec 24 (ANI) : Security personnel gunned down nine militants in two separate encounters in Manipur on Thursday.

Some heavily armed suspected militants of People’s Republic of Kangleipak (Prepak) attacked a patrolling team of Assam Rifles in Luiboldung village in Chandel district.

In retaliation, the security forces opened fire and a brief encounter followed where six militants were killed.

Police recovered from the militants, one AK-47 rifle with 70 live rounds of ammunitions, one M-16 rifle with 72 live rounds, one .4 pistol with 11 live rounds and one Chinese hand grenade.

In another shoot out, Assam Rifles troops gunned down three cadres of Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) in Waithou village of Thoubal district.

Police recovered three 9 mm pistols from the three dead militants.

Identity of the nine dead militants is yet to be established.

All nine bodies have been kept at a mortuary in the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in the state capital Imphal.

Both Prepak and KCP are rebel groups fighting for an independent homeland for the Meiti community in the state. (ANI)