Imphal, March 27: In another case of clash between UG groups, one KNA cadre was killed and two others injured in a shoot-out with NSCN (IM ) cadres at about 6.30 pm yesterday.

The shoot-out took place at the junction between Kamjong and Chassad, about half a kilometre east of Chassad police station.

According to information received here, the KNA cadre died on the way to RIMS.

He is identified as one Alan Haokip (28) s/o Holkhojang.

A native of Myanmar, he was residing at Phaikoh in Ukhrul district.

He was a cadre of the Kuki National Army (KNA).

A bullet which hit him in the chest exited through the back.

The corpse has been deposited at RIMS mortuary.

The two injured KNA cadres are identified as Thangnio Haokip (20) s/o Thanglun of Aishi village but staying at Chassad and Paothang Haokip (35) s/o Seijang of Chassad.

Thangnio sustained injuries in the right eye while Paothang Haokip was hit by a bullet on the left side of the chest.

All the three KNA cadres were brought to RIMS for treatment at RIMS at about 7 am today by a team of 1st AR personnel led by Naik Subedar Balbir.

According to Thangnio, three activists of the KNA came to a PCO at Chassad yesterday.

While one was talking over phone inside the PCO booth, the other two stood guard outside.

In the meantime, some NSCN (IM) cadres coming from Kamjong side suddenly opened fire towards the three KNA cadres.

Confirming that one KNA cadre was killed in the firing, Thangnio conveyed that Paothang Haokip and himself were hit by stray bullets.

It is reported that the local people were able to hear the gun-fight between the two UG groups till 9.30 last night.

On the other hand, police maintained that the two injured individuals (Thangnio and Paothang Haokip) are also UG cadres.

Sensing that the gun-fight may resume any time in the locality, the villagers are caught in a tense and panicky situation.

While some women and children have fled the village, the villagers, unable to venture outside, remain shut up inside their homes till the time of filing this report.

Along with submission of a report on the prevailing situation at Kamjong and Chassad to the Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul this afternoon, the SDO Kamjong has asked for deployment of additional forces.