6 feared killed as gun battle in Manipur enters third day

A fierce gunfight between Meitei and Kuki groups on the border between Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts continued for a third day on Thursday, with at least six people feared dead in the last 24 hours in could well be was the bloodiest episode in the strife-torn state in over two months

- Prawesh Lama and Utpal Parashar

A man stands amid the charred remains of houses burned down, during the ongoing ethnic violence, in Imphal on August 27. (AFP)
A man stands amid the charred remains of houses burned down, during the ongoing ethnic violence, in Imphal on August 27. (AFP)
The battle between groups of armed men from both communities began in the early hours of Tuesday after a 26-year-old farmer, Salam Jotin Singh, a resident of the village of Naranseina, was shot at. Singh sustained a bullet injury, but survived. He is among at least 18 people who have sustained wounds, according to officials aware of the matter. This includes two jawans of the India Reserve Battalion (IRB).

The violence was reported from the Khoirentak hill area and parts of Churachandpur-Bishnupur district border, the officials said.

District administration officials from Churachandpur and Bishnupur, and security officials confirmed that six people had died in the 24 hours between Wednesday evening and Thursday evening.