At least 13 killed in gunfight in India’s Manipur

A skirmish between two militant groups in Manipur's Tengnoupal district resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people, officials said on Monday.

The incident unfolded in Leithu village during the afternoon. According to an official from the hill district, a group of militants en route to Myanmar was ambushed by another insurgent faction that holds influence in the area, reports Times of India.

Upon reaching the scene, security forces discovered the bodies of 13 individuals, although their identities remain unconfirmed.

Notably, they seem to be non-local individuals. It's worth mentioning that Tengnoupal district shares a porous border with Myanmar.

"The forces did not find any weapons next to the bodies,” another official said, adding that it appeared the dead were not from Leithu area and could have come from another place after which they engaged in a firefight with a separate group.

“The police have reached the spot. They will probe the matter,” the officer added.

Manipur has been roiled by ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities since May 3. The clashes have left at least 182 dead and around 50,000 homeless.

The incident comes just four days after the Centre and Manipur government signed a peace agreement in New Delhi with the United National Liberation Force (UNLF), the oldest militant outfit in the state.