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.
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.
{{/usCountry}}None of the militant organisations claimed responsibility for the killing.
{{/usCountry}}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.