Manipur extremists caught in Myanmar conflict

Civil defence forces have killed at least four members of Imphal Valley-based armed outfits fighting for the military junta across the border

Sovereignty-seeking extremist groups specific to Manipur’s Imphal Valley are fighting the Myanmar army’s war against ragtag forces of its own civilians. A few have paid with their lives. Manipur has seven active outfits the security forces call VBIGs, which expands to valley-based insurgent groups primarily comprising the Meitei community. The newest of these is the Pambei faction of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the oldest VBIG formed in November 1964. Social media reportage by an independent but underground pro-democracy newsgroup in Myanmar had on May 12 said the Tamu Public Defence Force (TPDF), a ragtag militia of civilians, killed 15 soldiers of the Myanmar Military Council in a two-day battle in Tamu town and Pan Thar village.