10 Kuki ultras killed in fights; Manipur tense

At least 10 militants were killed in separate factional fights among Kuki militant groups in the past three days in two districts of Manipur, prompting the strengthening of security in Kuki-dominated areas, official sources said.

Five Kuki National Front-Zougam militants were killed in a factional clash in Churachandpur district for trying to leave the militant outfit.

KNF-Z members had gunned down their colleagues who tried to run away with sophisticated weapons, the sources said.

The incident followed last Tuesday's factional clash in Saikul area of Senapati district in which the Kuki Liberation Army outfit gunned down six of its colleagues, including its commander-in-chief for abandoning the outfit with a large number of weapons, the sources said.

Sources said security measures were tightened in some Kuki-settled areas to prevent civilian casualties in view of rise in factional fight between different Kuki militant factions.

More than 10 Kuki outfits, demanding carving out of small states from Manipur on ethnic lines, are operating in the state.