Imphal:
The cycle of violence in Manipur continued on Tuesday with two people dying and at least five – including a top BJP youth leader from the state – getting injured in fresh firing between two groups.
Police sources said the exchange of fire broke out at Koutruk village in Imphal West district and that the number of deaths is likely to go up. At least one person is also said to be missing.
Manoharmayum Barish Sharma, a senior member of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha – the youth wing of the BJP – sustained injuries in the firing and has been rushed to a hospital.
The sources said the gunfight erupted between village volunteers of two communities on the border of the Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts. There are also reports of residents fleeing the Kadangband, Koutruk and Kangchup villages in the Imphal valley following the fresh violence.