Imphal :In an exchange of sporadic gun fights between the volunteers of the Kukis and Meiteis, 2 individuals – one from each community died when they were hit by bullets. A total of  9 persons including a farmer sustained bullet injuries in sporadic gun fights at the Naransena canal area of the interdistrict borders of Bishnupur and Churachandpur on Tuesday.

According to official sources, the sporadic gun fights between the volunteers of the two communities started at 6 a.m. on Tuesday when the farmer was hit by a bullet on his shoulder at Naransena village. The intense gun battlers are still continuing though Manipur police commands and central forces are being deployed in the vulnerable areas.

Laibungjam Inao, 27, a Meitei and Jangminlen Gangte, a Kuki lost their lives in the intense gun battles at Naransena. A total of 9 persons including a farmer Salam Jotin, 38, a farmer got injuries. Laibungjam Inao, a resident of Takheul village of Manipur was hit on his head and died on the way to a hospital at Imphal while J Gangte, a resident of Songbo village of Churachandpur died on the spot.

Salam Jotin, suffered bullet injuries on his shoulder while he was working at his paddy field at Naransena Paddy cannel in Bishnupur district. Out of the 9 injured persons 6 were given medical treatments at Raj Medicity, Imphal, and 3 at the Shija Hospital, Imphal. The condition of the farmer is stated to be serious, the sources said.Since May 3, Manipur has been on the boil in which over 150 persons lost their lives and over 60, 000 people displaced.