Imphal, Nov. 4: Security forces busted a militant camp and killed one of the occupants in a nightlong operation at Wangoi Maril lake under Wangoi police station in Imphal West.

The troops recovered one AK-56 rifle along with 79 live rounds after the encounter. The troops also set on fire three huts belonging to the militants. Police said the security forces started the operation around 9 last night following information about the presence of some militants in the area.

They first surrounded the area and the exchange of fire started around 11pm and continued till the wee hours today, the police said.

The identity of the militant killed is yet to be established. The body has been kept at the mortuary of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences here for identification and post-mortem. The security forces also recovered three boats used by the militants, some clothing and a television set from the huts.

Wangoi Maril is a small lake connected to Loktak lake. About 10 militants were camping in the area, the security forces reported to the police. The rest escaped.

Security measures have been tightened in and around Imphal city after yesterday’s firing in the high-security Babupara area and the explosion of a grenade near two newspaper office buildings.

Unidentified men fired three shots at Babupara, but there was no report of any injury. In the other incident, a grenade exploded on Imphal-Airport Road at Sega Bhavok Leikai, in which five persons, including an employee of Matamgi Yakairol daily, were injured.

No group claimed responsibility for the explosion. The police are also clueless about the grenade blast.