Imphal: A top leader of the underground Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), involved in the kidnapping of German national Henrich Wolfgang, telecom deputy general manager (DGM) J Lumkim and son of former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing, has been killed in a crossfire between militants and police in Manipur, official sources said on June 5.

The self-styled "chief of army" of KLA Paozangam Lupheng, who was arrested on June 3 was being taken to a KLA camp at Chaningpokpi area, when the police force accompanying him was fired upon by KLA militants and in the ensuing crossfire the KLA "chief of army" was killed, the sources said.

One AK 47 rifle and several rounds of ammunition were recovered from the KLA camp, the sources said.

There was no casualty on the side of the police, the sources said. The casualty on the side of the militants who escaped during the encounter was not immediately known.

The sources said Lupheng told the police during interrogation that the KLA militants were also involved in the attack on superintendent of police M Manglemjao Singh in 2002.

The KLA militant has also admitted to the police that the underground outfit had earned about Rs 50 lakh from the kidnapping of several persons in Manipur in the past few months, the sources said.

PTI