Manipur is witnessing a fresh spell of heavy exchange of fire between two warring sides in the borders of Bishnupur and Churachandpur district for past three days after a lull for about a fortnight. With as many as five deaths reported yesterday, the total death count in this fresh spell of firing and shelling in the past three days has gone up to eight according to police sources. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum ( ITLF) - a joint body of the Kuki-Zo tribes today declared an 'Emergency Shutdown' in violence-hit Manipur's Churachandpur district after several Kuki-Zo-dominated areas of Manipur came under attack. At least eight persons have been killed and 18 injured, including two security personnel, in Manipur's Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts following continuous gunbattle between Kukis and Meiteis over the last 72 hours.
