IMPHAL, October 14: A fierce encounter took place between two armed groups of the region involving the NSCN (I-M) and another major armed underground group of Manipur last night, October 13, according to a reliable source.
An agency report said that, the banned UNLF is suspected to be the other group involved in the encounter.
Sources further stated, a cadre of the NSCN (I-M) died on the spot while another one was severely injured during the encounter.
The encounter took place at an area located between the villages of K Ashang Khullen and Wangli village, about 90 km away from Myanmar border under Kasom Khullen police station.
On hearing the news, the SDPO of Kasom Khullen left Imphal immediately and rushed to their headquarters at Ukhrul district.
Since the encounter area is heavily infested and dominated by underground armed personnel, no army or any state police force is willing or dare to take their chances, especially this evening.
Whether the state force or the Army would enter or intervene tomorrow is still in doubt due to the notoriety it gained in the past including the geographical terrain and the unpredictability of hostile actions by any armed UG, sources said.
Sources further stated, the dead NSCN (I-M) cadre was taken away by their NSCN (I-M) colleagues. No update or further confirmation is possible when report last came in, due to the breakdown of existing communication system in the area including WLL communication system or any mobile connectivity.
Newmai News Network adds: At least one National Socialist Council of Nagalim (IM) militant has been reportedly killed and several left injured by the cadres of United National Liberation Front (UNLF) in a gunfight between the two heavily armed outfits at Ashang Khullen border under
Kamjong Police Station in Ukhrul district of Manipur in the adjoining night of October 13 and 14.
According to reliable sources, the gunfight lasted for several hours.
A well placed source from the NSCN-IM in Dimapur has confirmed the death of one its cadres in the encounter. However, the identity of the slain cadre could not be ascertained.
Just after the news of the gunfight spread panic people of the nearby villages fled their homesteads for safety.
Since the incident happened in a border area, security forces could not rush to the spot immediately. However, the police had conducted a search operation this morning with additional forces where they recovered several bullets which are believed to be used by the cadres from the spot, the reports stated.