GUWAHATI, India (AFP) — Six separatist militants were shot dead in a gunbattle with Indian paramilitary troops in the restive northeastern state of Manipur, officials said.
The shootout between the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) rebels and the paramilitary Assam Rifles personnel took place in the thickly forested Hangbungminou area, 130 kilometres (81 miles) southeast of Manipur's capital Imphal, a defence spokesman said.
"We had specific information about UNLF militants in the area and when our troopers reached the place the militants challenged us and in retaliatory attacks six rebels were gunned down," Colonel Lalil Panth told AFP by phone.
There were no casualties among the security forces, he said. A large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the dead rebels.
The UNLF is an influential militant group fighting for an independent homeland for the majority Metei community in Manipur, which has a population of 2.4 million people and borders Myanmar.
There are about 19 militant groups active in Manipur with demands ranging from greater autonomy to independence. A number of rebel groups from Manipur have bases inside junta-ruled Myanmar.
More than 10,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in Manipur since India attained independence in 1947.
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