Imphal, Dec 24 (IANS) Three separatist guerrillas were killed Thursday in a gun fight with security forces in Manipur, officials said.
A police spokesperson said a group of heavily armed militants of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) attacked a patrol of the paramilitary Assam Rifles near Waithou village, 18 km south of Manipur capital Imphal.

“Based on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of a group of militants, an Assam Rifles column was in the area early Thursday when they came under attack from the rebels. There was retaliatory gun fire in which three KCP militants were shot dead,” a police official said.

A few more rebels probably managed to escape after the security forces counter attacked, the official said.

Security forces recovered automatic weapons and ammunition from the dead militants.

“A massive search is on to look for some more militants who escaped,” the official said.

The KCP is a rebel group fighting for an independent homeland for the majority Metei community in Manipur, a state of 2.4 million people bordering Myanmar.

There are some 20-odd militant groups active in Manipur with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.