Imphal: A 36-year-old woman was injured on Tuesday afternoon after being caught in crossfire during an armed confrontation between two suspected insurgent groups at Bunruang village under Nungba police station in Manipur’s Noney district, officials and local sources said.
The firefight reportedly took place near the strategically important Imphal-Jiribam highway and is suspected to have involved cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) [NSCN-IM] and the Zeliangrong United Front (Jenchui).
The injured civilian was identified as Ganchuiliu Kamei, wife of Dithailung Gangmei and a resident of nearby Taodaijang village.
According to reports, Kamei sustained a bullet injury to the back of her right shoulder as the two groups exchanged gunfire in the populated area. She was evacuated from the scene and taken to a nearby healthcare facility for treatment.
Medical personnel later said her condition was stable and out of danger.
There were no immediate reports of casualties among the two armed groups involved in the clash.
Following the incident, personnel from Nungba Police Station and Central security forces were deployed to the area to restore calm and assess the security situation along the highway.
Police have registered a case at Nungba police station and launched an investigation into the incident and the circumstances surrounding the exchange of fire.