Manipur militants kill ‘outsiders’

Unidentified armed persons, suspected to be United National Liberation Front (UNLF) militants, killed nine ‘non-locals’ near the Khordak area close to Keibul Lamjao National park in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Monday.

Unidentified armed persons, suspected to be United National Liberation Front (UNLF) militants, killed nine ‘non-locals’ near the Khordak area close to Keibul Lamjao National park in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Monday.

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Army sources from 57 Mountain Division in Leimakhong told HT that 8 to 9 “non-Manipuris” were killed in the incident.

“So far five dead bodies have been recovered”, Colonel A K Choudhury, in charge of the media cell in the Army Division, said. “We suspect hands of UNLF in the killing”, Choudhury added.

Eyewitness sources said that some of the victims were non-Manipuri jawans belong to the central para-military force deployed here.

Five dead bodies were found on the marshy land near Khordak Awang Leikai village. A police team led by K Jayentakumar, SP Bishnupur district, rushed to the spot to investigate the incident. “It seems four of the victims were killed with sharp weapons and the other by a gun”, SP Jayentakumar said. The dead bodies have been sent for identification, he added.

None of the militant organisations claimed responsibility for the killing.

It may be noted that troops of 57 Mountain division had killed around 12 militants and seized 10 weapons in a fortnight long “operation summer storm” last month in the Keibul Lamjao National Park.