IMPHAL, June 16 -- An 18-year-old footballer from Mohun Bagan's U-18 team was among three Kuki community members injured after a gunfight broke out between two armed groups in the Kangpokpi district of strife-torn Manipur on Monday, officials familiar with the matter said. Demonstrations were later held on the complex of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal, where the injured were brought for treatment. Protesters alleged that the three were militants, prompting security forces to use batons and tear gas shells to disperse the mob. According to the officials, the firing took place around 6 am in the border area between Leilon Vaiphei - a Kuki village -and Konsakhul - a Naga village - in Kangpokpi district when armed persons engaged in a shootout in the Kuki-majority district. This comes days after six mutilated bodies of Naga hostages, captured by Kuki militants last month, were found by security forces. Officials have identified the three injured as Lunliandan Vaiphei (20); Genzamang Vaiphei (18); and Paogoulal Chongloi (18) of Kangpokpi district. According to the residents of Konsakhul village, while they were working in a paddy field located at the border area under their village's jurisdiction, some armed groups reportedly opened fire on them. They fled the area and reported the incident to the Naga Village Guard, who retaliated, leading to gunfire. A team of security forces from the 158 and 112 companies of the CRPF intervened in the gunfight and controlled the situation at around 6.40am, the officials said. The security forces evacuated the three injured to the 183 Military Hospital at Leimakhong for first aid, before shifting them to RIMS in Imphal under tight security. Soon after, a group of protesters gathered near RIMS, objecting to the admission of the injured youths. According to officials and witness accounts, the crowd later assembled near the casualty block, prompting security personnel to intervene....