Shillong, Sep 14 (IANS): A militant was killed Sunday in Meghalaya in a gunbattle with security forces, police said.

The hour-long gunfight between Garo militants and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos took place at the Jhum field in Rambogre Songgital area, district police chief of East Garo Hills Davies Marak told IANS.

He said the dead militant was identified as Rikman.

"We launched an operation in the area based on a tip-off that some members of the group were taking shelter there," Marak said, adding that operation is still on in the area which is about 340 km from here.

A pistol, a very high-frequency wireless set, two mobile handsets and incriminating documents were recovered from the site, police said.

SWAT commandos, backed by the CoBRA (Combat Battalion for Resolute Action) troopers, are conducting a combing operation code-named "Operation Hill Storm" to flush out militants.

The Garo National Liberation Army is fighting for a separate Garoland to be carved out of Meghalaya.