In fierce gun battle with PLA one KNA (B) militant killed

Imphal: One militant belonging to the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) has been slain in a gun battle with PLA freedom fighters this morning.

The battle took place at Taret Turel along the Indo-Myanmar border in between Kamjong district and Kabaw Tampak at around 5.50 am today.

The gun battle erupted when a large group of people clad in combat uniforms attacked a PLA position where PLA freedom fighters and cadres of another group were staying together, sources informed.

The PLA freedom fighters retaliated resulting in a heavy exchange of fire which lasted for a few hours.

On seeing the advancing KNA-B cadres, the PLA freedom fighters outflanked them and launched a counter-attack.

While one KNA-B militant was killed with a head shot, the others fled away.

Later, when PLA fighters scanned the area from where KNA-B militants launched the attack, one KNA-B militant in combat uniform was found dead with bullet injury on his head, said the sources.

The PLA freedom fighters also recovered one AK-56 rifle a few metres away from the dead body.

As the grasses in the area were found strewn with blood, it is suspected that there might be more casualties on the side of the KNA-B militants, said the sources.

KNA-B is an armed wing of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) .

They are known by the name of KNA when they operate in India/Manipur.

But in Myanmar, they operate under the name of KNA-B, according to the sources.

Notably, Myanmar militants numbering around 200 were engaged in a fierce gun battle with a combined team of the PLA and the Pambei-led UNLF near Maringthel area in Tengnoupal district in the early hours of Wednesday.

Earlier, PLA fighters fought a fierce battle for over three days with a combined force of Myanmar militants groups; PDF and KNA(B) near Myo Thit in Myanmar, close to Kamjong district along the Indo-Myanmar border.

A significant number of PDF and KNA (B) cadres, equipped with sophisticated weapons, encircled a joint camp of North East insurgent groups including the PLA since May 9, engaging in intense firing using RPGs and bombs over the course of three days.

The intensity of the firing escalated on May 11 morning.

The clash reportedly resulted in casualties on both sides, claiming the lives of one PDF militant and one KNA (B) militant, while injuring at least nine PDF militants and some KNA (B) members.

Additionally, two cadres from the North East insurgent groups also reportedly sustained injuries.