Imphal, April 24 -- Three persons from the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities were killed in separate gunfights in Manipur's Ukhrul district on Friday, police said.

One person was killed in the first attack, carried out in the early hours of Friday in Sinakeithei, a Tangkhul Naga village in Ukhrul. Two armed Kuki persons were subsequently killed in Mullam, a Kuki village, in retaliatory firing, police said.

Local police confirmed the deaths but could only provide sketchy details of the attacks.

"Since early morning, the state police have been unable to reach the spot, but three armed individuals died during the gunfights. Border Security Force (BSF) troops reached Mullam village and recovered the two bodies belonging to the Kuki commun...