11 killed in clashes in Manipur border town

Imphal, June 10 (UNI) At least 11 people of two communities were killed in clashes at Moreh, Chandel district, here during the past 24 hours, police said today.

Two houses were also burnt down by mobs during the violence.

The police said the clashes bagan last morning and intense fighting between the two groups were still continuing.

Director General of Police Y Joykumar and other senior civil and police officials were now being camping in the border town, about 110 km from here.

Officials said prohibitory orders under CrPC 144 had been clamped in the town to avoid recurrence of violence and additional forces were rushed in to prevent any untoward incident.

A red alert has been sounded in the border town, the officials added.

The town is multi-ethnic as the Indo-Myanmar border trade takes place in the area. Since May, border trade had been affected due to clashes between different militant groups in the area.

Tension has been brewing in the area as killings continue to occur. On May 31, a woman was killed and a youth on June 3.

On June 6, all the communities signed an agreement to live peacefully.

The people remained calm even after four bodies were found yesterday, the police said.

Later, the situation worsened as the news that six more people were killed in the day-long violence spread in the town, they said.

The police said they were unable to retrieve the dead bodies yesterday as heavy firing was going on and irate people burnt down several houses and attacked the Moreh Police Station.

The six people were yet to be identified, they said and appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony in the town.

UNI