Manipur news: Fresh violence leaves 13 dead in gunfight near Myanmar border

livemint.com:

Manipur witnessed fresh violence in a series of violent incidences that has gripped the state since May, 2023. According to media reports citing officials, 13 people were killed in a gunfight between two groups of militants in Manipur's Tengnoupal district. The incident took place at Leithu village on Monday afternoon, PTI reported.

"A group of militants on their way to Myanmar were ambushed by another group of insurgents dominant in the area," an official in the hill district told PTI. Security forces reaching the spot found 13 bodies so far, he said, adding their identities were yet to be ascertained but they appeared not to be locals. The officer said that it appeared the dead are not from Leithu area and could have come from another place after which they engaged in a firefight with a separate group, Hindustan Times reported.

Notably, Tengnoupal district shares a porous border with Myanmar. Manipur administration in Manipur has repeatedly mentioned the nuisance of anti-social elements in border areas with Myanmar. Meanwhile, the Manipur government on Sunday restored mobile internet services across the state barring a few areas till 18 December, a notification said.

"Considering improvement in law and order and inconveniences faced by people due to the mobile internet ban, the state government has decided to relax the suspension," the notification said. Mobile towers catering to services within a 2km radius along adjoining areas between districts such as Chandel and Kakching, Churachandpur and Bishnupur, Churachandpur and Kakching, Kangpokpi and Imphal West, Kangpokpi and Imphal East, Kangpokpi and Thoubal and Tengnoupal and Kakching will still face suspended operations, it said. Mobile internet had been suspended in