Imphal: Heavy exchange of fire was reported between insurgents of Manipur People's Army (MPA) and security personnel from Tuiting and Mawchon areas in Chandel district of Manipur bordering with Myanmar, official sources said today (Dec 13, 2004).

Sources said that the encounter lasted for some hours and casualty, if any, were not immediately known.

However, a caller who identified himself as spokesman of the MPA, armed wing of the separatist United National Liberation Front (UNLF), claimed that well-armed MPA insurgents who lay in ambush attacked the security men at Tuiting and nearby Moyon area, about 100 kms south-west of Imphal at around 8 AM.

Yesterday (Dec 12, 2004) about 200 villagers of Old Samtal, Chejang and Tuitong on Manipur-Mynanmar border crossed the international border and fled to Myanmar following heavy exchange of fire between the Army and MPA in interior areas of Chandel district.