A reliable source said that the deceased were unarmed fresh recruits of a Meitei militant outfit People Liberation Army
TFM Desk
At least 13 bodies were in the Tengnoupal district on Monday afternoon. According to official sources, security forces received inputs of a firefight at around noon between two groups of militants at Letithu village near Saibol in Tengnoupal district.
A reliable source said that the deceased were unarmed fresh recruits of a Meitei militant outfit. They were waylaid by Kuki militants, it alleged. Another highly-placed source, the 13 youths were supposed to cross the border and belonged to the proscribed People Liberation Army of Manipur.
An agency report quoting an official said, “The nearest security forces were about 10 km away from the spot. Once our forces rushed the spot and found 13 bodies in the Leithu village. The forces did not find any weapons next to the bodies.”
The officer further said that it appeared the deceased were not from the Leithu area and could have come from another place after which they engaged in a firefight with a separate group.
Neither police nor security forces confirmed the identity of the deceased people, the report said.
“The police have reached the spot. They will probe the matter,” the officer added.