Guwahati, May 18 (IANS): A self-styled area commander of a militant outfit in Assam's Karbi Anglong district was killed in a gun battle with security forces on Monday, an official said.

The militant - identified as Seme Kro of the Karbi Peoples' Liberation Tigers (KPLT) - was killed in Bhelughat area of the district, said a statement from Guwahati-based defence spokesperson Lt. Col. Suneet Newton.

A joint security forces team, comprising the army and police, launched an operation in Bhelughat after receiving a tip that a KPLT militant was taking shelter in the area.

The security forces asked the militant to surrender but he fired at them, leading to a gun battle in which the man was gunned down, the statement said.

The spokesperson said Kro was a senior leader of the outfit and was involved in several crimes in the past.

A 7.65 mm pistol with magazine, one live round of ammunition and incriminatory documents were recovered from the slain militant.

In another incident, security forces apprehended a cadre of the National Santhal Liberation Army (NSLA) on Sunday night in Silaimatha area in Kokrajhar district, the statement said.