At least three “village volunteers” were killed and five others injured in an exchange of fire with unidentified gunmen in Manipur’s Bishnupur district, police said. The incident took place in Khoijumantabi village in the early hours of Sunday when the “village volunteers” were guarding the area in a makeshift bunker, a police officer said.

Heavy exchange of fire was underway until noon, he said. While two bodies were found initially, the third one was recovered later. More than 100 people have lost their lives since May 3, when violence broke out between Meitei and Kuki communities in the state. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals—Nagas and Kukis—constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.