Imphal: The Army today (Nov 8, 2004) said there was no joint operation with Myanmar forces to drive out rebels from Manipur, nor was it aware if Myanmar troops had closed their country's border to prevent insurgents from escaping.

Army PRO Maj S D Goswami said security forces had been carrying out counter-insurgency operation in several areas of Manipur as a normal duty and at least 13 militants had been killed, 34 ultras apprehended and 20 weapons recovered since September.

He said the Army was not aware whether Myanmar troops had been carrying out a similar operation on their side.

Maj Goswami also denied about a joint operation with Myanmar to eject insurgents from Manipur.

The spokesman said there was no particular name for the ongoing counter-insurgency operation although some papers had termed it as "Operation All Clear."

The Army PRO denied that he had ever said 6000 troops had been deployed in the interior region or 100 rebel camps had been attacked by the Army since Monday last in Manipur.

Two Army jawans had lost their lives in the present operation and one lieutenant was injured in a mine blast, he said.

Some senior civil and security officials told that four brigades of Army besides Assam Rifles, CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), BSF (Border Security Force) and other central forces in addition to State forces like police, Manipur rifles and India Reserve Battalion forces were engaged in the present counter-insurgency operation.

They said that there was no joint operation with Myanmar forces and a section of media were "concocting stories that a Bhutan-like operation against ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom) some months ago was being carried out in Manipur."