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Guwahati: Three suspected militants, who were nabbed earlier, were killed by police during an operation in South Assam's Cachar district on the wee hours of Wednesday.
Confirming the development on X, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the militants belonged to Hmar community and one of them hailed from neighbouring Manipur. "Two AK series rifles, one more rifle and a pistol was recovered during the operation," Sarma posted on Wednesday morning.
Although the state police did not issue any official statement about the development, sources within the police said the three cadres belonging to Hmar People's Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) were arrested on Tuesday and they were taken to Bhuban Hills area situated along Assam-Mozoram border for a search operation.
"Some other militants, who were hiding inside the hills opened fire at the police team prompting the forces to retaliate. The three militants were shot when they tried to flee. They died on the spot," said a source.
The Bhuban Hills has been used by the insurgent group, which is active along the Assam-Mizoram border. The police in Cachar district on Monday carried out search operations in several places based on information about movement of the militants.
Police had earlier arrested some cadres of the outfit.