Rebel clash in India's north-east

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

Fighting has erupted between two rebel groups in the north-east Indian state of Manipur, which has left several insurgents dead over three days.

On Saturday, rebels of the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) attacked the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) in a village under its control.

A ZRA spokesman says five UNLF rebels were killed although this cannot be independently verified.

India is fighting several rebel groups in the north-east.

Manipur is made up of a number of ethnic groups.

The Hindu Meiteis who live in the Imphal valley are the largest group but the Nagas, Kukis and Zomi tribes people, mostly Christian, also have substantial populations in the state.

The UNLF was formed by Meitei youths in 1964 and is the state's strongest separatist group.

The ZRA is fighting for a separate homeland for the Zomi tribes, a demand the UNLF and other Meitei-predominant rebel groups oppose.

Turf battle

Earlier this week, UNLF rebels entered Zomi-inhabited areas of the state's Churachandpur and Jiribam regions and attacked two Indian army patrols.

A UNLF spokesman said that five Indian soldiers were killed in the attacks but the Indian army has denied it.

The ZRA says that following the attack, Indian soldiers carried out massive operations in these areas to look for the rebels.

"Zomi villagers faced much harassment from the army," ZRA spokesman Eddy Solo told the BBC.

Mr Solo says the ZRA asked the UNLF to leave the area but they refused.

"We just want the UNLF to get out of our area, or else we fight them," he said.

For its part, the UNLF accuses the ZRA of being close to the Indian army which, they allege, is using them against the UNLF.

The Indian army has been locked in a difficult counter-insurgency operation against the UNLF for the past six months but now it appears they are getting support from tribal militias such as the ZRA.