Imphal: In a fresh upstick in Manipur violence, at least one village volunteer was killed while nine others sustained bullet injuries during a gunfight between suspected Kuki militants and village volunteers in Churachandpur and Imphal East districts on Monday, officials said. It is learnt that miscreants opened fire on the village volunteers in the Lailoiphai area of Churachandpur district located on the the border with Bishnupur district on Monday afternoon.
In the incident, one N Muansang, a 22-year-old village defence volunteer was killed in the firing incident, sources said. Elsewhere, at least eight cillage volunteers were injured after a fierce gunfight broke out at Nongsum village under Sagolmang police station area on Monday morning. The gun battle which started at around 10am lasted till evening, official sources said.
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According to the sources, the suspected Kuki militants started firing towards Nongsum village at around 10am. The village volunteers retaliated and they were backed by the other volunteers of the village thereby triggering a fierce gunfight. According to local reports, in the fierce gun battle between a large number of village volunteers of Nongsum and Kuki militants who had set up bunkers and Santry posts at Khopibung Village gate, four village volunteers sustained bullet injuries from gunshots from G/R from Nongsum Mamang Hill during the initial gunfire at around 12.30 pm.
As the gunfight came to an end, at eight village defense volunteers received bullet injuries during exchange of fire with Kuki militants on Monday. Governor of Manipur Anusuiya Uikey visited several relief camps in Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts on Monday and interacted with the affected people. The governor assured to extend all possible help to the displaced people.
