After Manipur, Kuki groups caught in Myanmar civil war 

After the ethnic conflict in Manipur, Kuki groups have reportedly been caught in the civil war in adjoining Myanmar. 

GUWAHATI

After the ethnic conflict in Manipur, Kuki groups have reportedly been caught in the civil war in adjoining Myanmar. 

Indian security experts keeping a watch on the war-torn country said an intense gunbattle was reported between the Myanmar Army and the combined forces of the People’s Defence Force (PDF) and the Kuki National Army (Burma) about 1.5 km east of border post number 72. 

The post, one of several marking the India-Myanmar border, is near the Manipur border town of Moreh. The PDF is the armed wing of the pro-democracy National Unity Government in Myanmar. 

“The firefight started at 3.30 a.m. on June 15 near the 1st battalion of the PDF,” a message received by the security forces in India read. 

Security officials said two Myanmar fighter jets also dropped four bombs about 2.5 km east of Moreh at 8 a.m. on June 15. “The smoke plume was observed and sound heard from the Indian side of the border,” an official said. 

The last incidents of aerial bombardment by the Myanmar Army near the border with India were reported on April 21 and 27. On both occasions, Camp Victoria near Moreh was targeted.