An encounter broke out between security forces and militants in Manipur's Imphal East district on Thursday night. During this, several rounds of firing took place for about an hour. However, there is no report of any casualty in the firing.

The militants are reported to have opened fire in Shantikhongbal, Yingangpokpi Uyok Ching and Thamnapokpi Uyok Ching villages. Police said that the security forces fired a few rounds in the air to disperse them. Ethnic violence has been going on in Manipur since May last year, in which more than 250 people have been killed and thousands displaced so far.

Violence continues unabated in the state, but the chaos increased after the killing of three women and their three children in Jiribam earlier this month. In view of the deteriorating situation in Manipur, the Union Home Ministry has sent five thousand additional central force personnel to the state.

Last rites of 10 youths killed in Manipur encounter held

Ten Kuki-Zo youths, who were killed in an encounter with security forces on November 11 in Manipur's Jiribam town, were cremated on Thursday. Before the funeral ceremony held at the Peace Ground in Churachandpur, the village youths gave a gun salute to the deceased. Manipur Police had described these youths as militants.

Earlier, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a prominent organisation of the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur, also organised a condolence programme. Family members of the deceased and others paid floral tributes to the 10 youths killed. Mizoram MLA Gjalalala and many others attended the funeral. MLA Gjalalala is also a technical advisor to Chief Minister Lalduhoma.

Internet ban extended till 7 December

The Manipur government on Thursday extended the ban on mobile internet in nine districts of the state by two more days till December 7. An order issued by the Home Department said that the ban on mobile internet in Imphal West, Imphal East, Kakching, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Pherzawl and Jiribam has been extended till 5:15 pm on December 7.