Imphal, February 18 2009: At least four underground cadres reportedly died and some others injured Wednesday when a gunfight erupted between two rival underground outfits near a dam in Khoubum Valley in the interior Tamenglong district.

The gunfight occurred at around 6.15 am at a place lying between Thangom and Betheljang village located on the side of the Old Cashar road (Tongjei Maril) under the Khoubum police station 200 km far away from Tamenglong district headquarter.

The place of occurrence was reportedly dominated by the combine group of PREPAK and Naga National Council (NNC) .

Reports said a good number of well armed cadres of NSCN(IM) intruded into the area from early morning today which resulted into the gunfight between the two sides.

The gun clash lasted till around 9 am.

Police were informed of the gunfight by the villagers.

Khoupum police later entered to the site at around 2 pm and retrieved the dead bodies of four cadres.

Three of the slain cadres seems to be Meetei and police suspected them to be belongs to PREPAK's Phigang Lanmii while one suspected to belongs to NSCN(IM).

Some cadres involved in the fight on both side also sustained injuries, the source added.

The dead bodies have been kept in the custody of the Primary Health Centre, Khoupum and will be transported to Imphal at RIMS morgue for official identification and procedures, police source said.