The commander-in-chief of ethnic insurgent outfit Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KLPT) was shot dead in an encounter with a joint police and Army team in Karbi Anglong district of Assam early Tuesday morning.

A five-member group of KPLT came face-to-face with the security forces at Deothar in Bokajan subdivision and fired at them, police said.

After heavy exchange of fire, the commander-in-chief of the outfit, Apang Ingti, was shot dead while another cadre identified as Soban was injured and apprehended, the police said.

The remaining three ultras fled away, they said, adding that an AK-47 and a huge quantity of ammunition were recovered from the militants. Ingti was wanted in connection with killings, kidnappings and extortion in the district.

The KPLT is the breakaway group of militant outfit Karbi Longri National Liberation Front formed after it declared unilateral ceasefire on February 10 last year.