India, April 25 -- Three people from the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities were killed in separate incidents of firing between armed groups of the rival tribes in Manipur's Ukhrul district, police said on Friday.

According to police, the first incident took place in the early hours of Friday in Sinakeithei -- a Tangkhul Naga village in Ukhrul -- where one person was killed in the first attack by suspected Kuki armed militants. Hours later, two armed Kuki community members were killed in retaliatory firing in Mullam, a Kuki village, police said.

Local police confirmed the deaths but said a probe is on to ascertain what led to the attacks.

"Since early morning, the state police have been unable to reach the spot, but three armed individ...