Heavy exchange of fire reported from hill village in Manipur

Two militant factions exchanged heavy gunfire at an interior hill village in Manipur's Tamenglong district but there was no casualty, official reports said today.

There was a gunfight between two Naga militant outfits NSCN-IM and Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) at Guitang Tinkao village yesterday and the exchange of fire lasted for several hours.

Reports said villagers fled to safer places during the gunfight.

Security personnel reached the spot this morning for further investigation, reports said.

ZUF did not want NSCN-IM men to operate in their (ZUF) area while NSCN-IM was once active in all Naga-settled area in Manipur.

Tamenglong district is mainly inhabited by Nagas of different communities.

On October 7, there was a heavy exchange of fire between NSCN-IM and ZUF militants during which five NSCN-IM men and a civilian driver were killed and over five others injured.