Guwahati: Security forces on Thursday launched a massive cordon-and-search operation in Manipur’s Noney district, a day after three militants were killed in a gunfight between rival Naga outfits.More than 500 personnel from Manipur Police, CRPF’s CoBRA unit and Assam Rifles began the operation at around 3.30 am in the Nungba and Kekru Naga areas, police said. Security personnel checked the identities of residents during the operation, which was under way at the time of reporting.On Wednesday, the ZUF (Jenchui) faction clashed with joint teams of NSCN (IM) and ZUF (Kamson) in which two from the Jenchui faction and one from the Kamson wing of ZUF were killed.Elsewhere in the state, thousands of Nagas rallied in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts demanding the withdrawal of Assam Rifles from Naga-inhabited areas, an end to ethnic conflict in the state, abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with Kuki outfits and removal of deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen.The rallies were organised by Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) and other Tangkhul bodies under United Naga Council (UNC).Protesters demanded an end to alleged “proxy warfare” and a permanent political solution to the Manipur crisis, and raised slogans such as “Assam Rifles Quit Our Land”.
