At least four suspected militants of a Kuki militants group, including the leader, were shot dead in a gun battle with troops of Assam Rifles in Ukhrul district, Manipur, close to the international border with Myanmar, on Saturday, a police source said Sunday. The source said that the four slain cadres belonging to a faction of KNA (Kuki National Army) was led by self styled commander-in-chief Lungam.

They were killed in an exchange of fire with troops of 44 Assam Rifles yesterday, near the border village, Phaikok under Chasad police station of Ukhrul district. Three sophisticated arms (two AK-series rifles and one M-16 rifle), 200 live rounds of ammunition and one Motorola Wireless set were recovered from the spot where the cadres were killed.
Chasad police retrieved the dead bodies from the spot this morning (Sunday) after the authority of the Assam Rifles informed them early morning.

 Around two years back, some cadres had deserted KNA camp located in interior Chandel district of Manipur only to announce formation of a new group, Kuki National Army (Unification). However, they could not operate actively as the mother organization declared them as deserters and warned for surrender.

KNA is among the 19 Kuki militant groups operating in Manipur maintaining ceasefire with government forces under a tripartite agreement of Suspension of Operation (SoO) under two apex bodies, Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF).