Imphal: At least 13 people were killed in a gunfight between unidentified armed groups in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district bordering Myanmar on Monday, officials said.
The incident occurred in Leithu village , which is dominated by Kuki-Zomi community. The village falls under under Machi police station.
A police official said 13 bullet- riddled bodies were recovered from the area but noted that the “formal identification is yet to be done.”
The Assam Rifles launched an operation in the area after they were informed of the gunfight between unidentified armed groups at around 10.30 am on Monday.
The police have reached the spot to investigate into the matter.
Manipur has been witnessing an ethnic conflict between the Meiteis and Kukis since May 3, but no incident of violence has been reported from Leithu village.
On Sunday, the state government lifted the ban on mobile internet from most parts of the state till December 18.
Mobile internet services will, however, remain suspended within a 2-kilometre periphery of the district boundaries of Chandel and Kakching, Churachandpur and Bishnupur, Churachandpur and Kakching, Kangpokpi and Imphal West, Kangpokpi and Imphal East, Kangpokpi and Thoubal and Tengnoupal and Kakching.
The lifting of suspension came four days after the Central government signed a peace agreement with the United National Liberation Force (UNLF), the oldest militant outfit in Manipur.
