Five killed in militant gunfight

From Our Correspondent

UKHRUL | Sept 12

A gunfight allegedly between NSCN (IM) and combined force of CorCom and Manipur Naga Peoples Front (MNPF) broke out in the wee hours today at Makan village, under Kasom Khullen police station of Kamjong district.

As per information received from sub-divisional police officer of Kasom Khullen, Thotreithing Chalamva, the incident took place at around 2:30 am today.

Sources said that at least five people were killed in the factional clash, in which three persons are alleged to be Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) cadres and the two others belong to MNPF.

Those two killed from MNPF cadres are said to be Tangkhuls. It is reported that the cadres of NSCN (IM) took away four assault rifles and nine numbers of improvised explosive devices of different sizes.

A team of Kasom Khullen police led by officer-in-charge, Sani Mao rushed to the spot for investigation, informed the SDPO Kasom Khullen. However due to bad condition of the road, the police team are yet to reach the spot at the time of filling this report.

According to SDPO of Ukhrul, Ringthing Hongchui, a 407-truck from Ukhrul Reserved Line has also been despatched to retrieve the dead bodies. A team of 17 Assam Rifles at Kashung village has also been rushed to the area.

One of the officers who do not want his identity to be disclosed stated that the action of police forces has always been delayed as the police stations at Ukhrul and Kamjong districts do not have a vehicle.

He added that hiring of vehicle and reimbursement of the same takes a year or more from the department. Reserved Line at Ukhrul is provided with one Gypsy and four 407-trucks.

Makan village is situated about 40 kilometres from Kasom Khullen PS and it is near the international border pillar No. 11 and 12 and shares a boundary with Chandel district and Kamjong district the village has around 40 households.