Imphal, March 08: In twin incidents of clashes among UG groups at different places, one cadre has been slain while two camps of UG groups have been destroyed.

The deceased identified as Sholkhohen Kipgen (50) of T-Kipgen Veng, Churachandpur was killed in a shoot-out between HPC cadres and suspected HNA cadres at Saidan village under Churachandpur police station at about 9 pm yesterday.

The deceased has been handed over to family members after post mortem at Churachandpur district hospital today.

On the other hand, KRA and KNA cadres exchanged heavy firing at Maibung Likli and Wakanphai under Saikul police station this morning.

In the gun fight, two camps belonging to KNA cadres have been destroyed, claimed the KRA.

According to information received from the spot, KNA cadres staying at Sadang village under Saikul PS were driven off by KRA cadres after a gun fight at about 9 am yesterday.

Following the incident, about 80 KRA cadres clad in combat fatigue came to Maibung Likli at about 8.30 am today where they exchanged heavy firing with KNA cadres who have already taken their positions there.

When this reporter reached the spot this morning, the intense gun fight was continuing.

The KRA cadres took their position at Maibung Likli and fired towards Wakanphai and Khokon village.

The KNA cadres fired back from the two villages.

Unaware as they were, some KRA cadres on the flank turned their weapons to the reporters.

But when the reporters identified themselves, the KRA cadres allowed the reporters to approach them.

As the gun fight was raging on, an armoured vehicle of the army approached up to a Nepali village, a few distance short of Maibung Likli.

But the army vehicle turned back without bothering to intervene in the gun fight.

The army personnel, however, asked about the strength of the UG cadres.

On hearing the response of the villagers, that the strength of the UG cadres was big, they quickly left the place.

Second in command of KRA's Chingjapao (CP) Bn V Hangshing who was there at the encounter site questioned as to why the KNA cadres who were allegedly undertaking armed movements in Myanmar killed students in Manipur.

He accused the KNA of being a gang.

For killing their PRO and innocent students, the KRA cadres were coming there to drive away KNA cadres, Hangshing stated.

In the gun fight, the KRA used 50 AK rifles, four lathode guns, nine SLRs, four LMGs, one G-4 rifle and three G-3 rifles.

Meanwhile, KRA information and publicity secretary Th Misao informed the press this evening that during the gun fight which started at about 7 am and continued till 4 pm, two camps belonging to KNA/KLA cadres located at Maibung Likli and Wakanphai were destroyed.

One weapon, 200 hundred rounds, one wireless set and scores of files containing documents were recovered from the two camps destroyed and captured by the KRA, Misao informed.

Ration items and blankets found in the deserted camps have been consigned to flames together with the whole camps, he added.

On the other hand, KNO/KLA information and publicity secretary Armstrong Gangte conveyed that there was no casualty on the part of their cadres.

He contended that there were NSCN (IM) cadres among the KRA cadres.

Consequent upon the gun fight among the UG groups, 4th IRB personnel posted at Wakan to safeguard the Repeater Centre there fired some rounds at about 11.45 pm yesterday.

As the villagers residing near the encounter sites have fled away, all the surrounding villages bore a deserted look today.

However, a large number of women and children who could not flee away in time endured the gun fight wailing praying in their homes.

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