Three paramilitary personnel on poll duty were killed and three others injured in separate encounters with insurgents as election material, including EVMs, were looted and destroyed by militants on the eve of the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Manipur, official sources said on Tuesday.
Activists of the People's Liberation Army attacked an Assam Rifles party on its way to Sajik Tampak near Manipur-Myanmar border for election duty on Monday evening and killed three AR personnel, including an officer.
The PLA insurgents later fled with sophisticated weapons, including three guns, one wireless set and some other military equipment.
Official sources said Border Security Force personnel on poll duty at Tulaiphai area in Churachandpur district in outer Manipur launched a massive combing operation in the area, about 65 km south of Imphal.
Sources said suspected Manipur Peoples' Army insurgents also attacked CRPF and BSF personnel on poll duty at
Wangjing Tengtha area in Thoubal district and Sagang area in Churachandpur district late on Monday night.
Official reports said two EVMs, election material and a vehicle were set on fire by insurgents at Waikhong, about 55 km south-east of Imphal.