Two killed in encounter at crowded Manipur market

An unidentified militant and a woman were killed and five others injured in a fierce encounter between ultras and police commandos at a crowded market in Imphal on Thursday, official sources said.

The gunfight broke out when the commandoes, acting on a tip-off, chased and opened fire at some suspected militants at the market complex at Alu Galli area at around 10.30 am.

The militants retaliated and in the ensuing gunbattle, a civilian woman and an ultra were killed but other militants managed to flee, the sources said.

Five others, including two women and an Assam Rifles jawan, were injured in the crossfire and were hospitalised, they said.

A 9-mm pistol and some rounds of ammunition were recovered from the spot. The bodies have been sent to Regional Institute of Medical Science Hospital for post mortem, the sources said.