New Delhi - Army troops killed at least five separatist rebels during a raid on their hideouts in the north-eastern state of Manipur, a media report said Tuesday.

The soldiers targeted rebels of the People's Revolutionary Army of Kangleipak (PREPAK) in the Loktak lake area, about 50 kilometres south of state capital Imphal on Monday night, the NDTV network reported.

The group's top cadres were killed in the clash, representing a major blow to the oldest militant group in the state, the report said.

The army also captured arms and ammunition including assault rifles and grenade launchers.

It was the first major operation inside the lake area which is full of small floating islands made of moss, weeds and soil.

The PREPAK has been fighting security forces over the last three decades for an independent homeland for the majority Metei community.

There are more than 19 militant groups active in Manipur, bordering Myanmar, with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.

India's north-east is a volatile region where nearly 40 separatist, tribal or leftist groups are active in five states. More than 15,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in the region in the past decade. (dpa)