Thirteen people were killed in a gunfight between two unidentified groups in strife-torn Manipur on Monday, police said.

A police media statement on Monday night said the “gunfight between unknown armed miscreants” took place at Leithao villag in Tengnoupal district.

“... 13 persons have been killed. District police and security forces rushed to the spot, a case has been registered,” the statement said.

A police official said the men appeared to be from the valley. “We suspect they ventured into the wrong area after entering the state from the Myanmar border, about 35km away,” he said.

Tengnoupal is a Kuki-Zo-majority district.

Since violence erupted between Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo people on May 3, Meiteis
have left the hills and the Kuki-Zo have left the valley. At least 194 people have been killed in the continuing violence and over 67,000 have been displaced.