Militant factions trade bullets, one killed, two injured

Imphal: A suspected militant of National Socialist Council of Nagaland, Isak-Muivah faction (NSCN-IM), was killed during a fierce gunfight with a rival group in Ukhrul district of Manipur bordering Myanmar, an official said today. According to reports from the district, a large number of suspected NSCN-IM cadre attacked the community hall of Wangli village where some members of the rival group were taking rest on Monday.[caption id=“attachment_938291” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Keeping a vigil. Reuters[/caption] In the ensuing gunfight that lasted several hours, a Naga militant was killed while two injured members of the rival group were taken away to an unknown place by the suspected NSCN-IM militants, the reports said. Both the groups escaped to nearby thick jungles after the encounter. Police sources at Kasom Khullen sub-division under which Wangli, about 112 km from Imphal, falls said they would investigate whether the militants had infiltrated from Myanmar recently or not. They said militants of several parties were actively operating at the Indo-Myanmar border areas of Ukhrul and Chandel districts in Manipur. PTI