Security forces gunned down five militants belonging to the 709 battalion of the proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom following a fierce gun battle near Dhomdhoma in Nalbari district of Assam late Saturday night.

An Army source informed that, a joint team of Army and Assam Police acting on a tip-off about presence of a group of ULFA militants launched search operation inside Mohina forest village near Dhomdhoma late Saturday night.

On seeing the security personnel, the group of militants opened fire and five of the militants were killed in the ensuing encounter. One of the slain militants was identified as Sanjit Sarania alias Siphung, a self-style corporal of the 709 battalion of the ULFA.

The encounter lasted for more than an hour and all members of the group were killed on the spot. Identity of the rest of the ultras was yet to be ascertained.

The security personnel recovered four pistols, two grenades, one Improvised Explosive Device (IED), one kilogram of RDX, one kilogram of urea, nine detonators, 29 rounds of assorted ammunition and one radio set on the slain ultras.

The 709 battalion of the ULFA has remained the most active battalion in the wake of unilateral truce declared by two crack companies of the outfit's 28th battalion about three months back to facilitate dialogue between the ULFA top brass and government of India.

The Army and the police have been hot on the trail of the 709 battalion of the militant group of late in Lower Assam districts to pressurize the battalion either to declare ceasefire or surrender to escape the heat of the sustained operations.