Three Kuki militants killed in factional fight

Imphal, Dec 6 (PTI) Three suspected militants of the Kuki National Liberation Front-Military Council (KNF-MC) were killed in a factional fight with another militant outfit in interior Tamenglong district of Manipur, official reports said today.

The threee KNF-MC militants were killed in a gun battle with activists of newly-formed Kuki group, United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA), at Lenlong yesterday.

The victims were identified as Paotinlam (27), Sathan (27) and Khupmang (22), reports from the district said adding the motive behind the factional fight is yet to be known.

The main demand of the KNF-MC was to carve out a Kuki state by reorganising Manipur.

Over 450 persons have so far been killed in militancy related crimes in Manipur this year.