10 Kuki militants gunned down

Armed militants believed to be the members of NSCN-IM gunned down at least 10 extremists of the Manipur-based Kuki Liberation Army in an encounter on Monday, reports Sobhapati Samom.

ARMED MILITANTS believed to be the members of NSCN-IM gunned down at least 10 extremists of the Manipur-based Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) in an encounter on Monday morning at Tangkhul Hundung village, about 60 km northeast of Imphal.

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Villagers said the gunbattle took place when a 12-member team of the KLA tried to leave the village after an overnight stay on Monday morning.

Armed militants believed to be from the NSCN-IM fired towards the jeep, killing 10 of the KLA men, while two escaped. KLA is one of the eight Manipur-based Kuki militant groups, which has suspended operations here following the deployment of central security forces.

It could not, however, be confirmed if NSCN-IM militants were involved in the attack.

A local police team rushed to the spot for investigations. "We heard gunfire and found the men lying dead," villagers told reporters at the encounter site later.