IMPHAL, October 30: At least four persons were reportedly killed in clashes between underground groups in Tamenglong district today, according to reports reaching here in Imphal.
According to police sources, the encounter took place near Gaddai Hills which is under the jurisdiction of Tamenglong Police station.
The fierce encounter between suspected cadres of NSCN-IM and Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) started at around 11 am in the morning and continued till late in the afternoon around 4:30 pm, the police sources added.
According to reports, four cadres were reportedly died at the spot. However, only one body of the deceased could be retrieved so far.
Of late, Tamenglong district had become a theatre of war between NSCN-IM and ZUF even leading to civilian casualties.
This has led to public protests in Tamenglong headquarters and other towns of the district even to the extent of barring the entry of armed cadres in civilian areas.
Although reports of the fierce encounter were received early, police personnel and state forces refrained from approaching towards the area, since the area is heavily infested with lots of armed militants on all sides and the unpredictability of the terrain have restricted them from approaching and investigating the encounter.
However, a combined team of 13th Assam Rifles and DOGRA Regiment trekked towards the site of the encounter and found a body of a deceased armed militant. The body of the deceased is now kept at the Tamenglong district hospital, sources said.
On the other hand, a spokesperson of Zeliangrong United Front, ZUF said a team of NSCN (I-M) came and attack towards the post of the ZUF located at Gaddai Hills in Tamenglong district.
The ZUF cadre posted on the outpost and the re-inforcement cadre was killed on the spot while two more NSCN (I-M) cadre also died on the spot while another one was seriously injured judging from the struggling marks and blood trail. One ammunition pouch, one SLR and three sniper bullets and two more magazines were recovered from the spot.
The deceased cadres of the ZUF were identified as Pathailung, aged 28 of Longchum village, Awang khul and Puileini, aged 25 of Puiti village of Haochong. Meanwhile, one of the deceased NSCN (I-M) cadres has been identified as Ringuanglung Kamei, aged 27, of Noney. The injured cadre was dragged into the forest by their fellow cadres, while another one escaped with a hand injury.
A spokesman of the ZUF stated that it will not take lightly the offensive of NSCN (I-M) which is one of the armed groups currently under ceasefire with the Indian Government.