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.
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.