Kohima, May 04: Nagaland witnessed yet another factional clash amidst the protest raised by the State Government and the locals against the continuing clashes among the Naga militant outfits today.

In a fierce gun battle between the NSCN-IM and the NSCN-Unification cadres at at Merapani under Wokha district of Nagaland on Sunday evening, two cadres of the NSCN-Unification have been killed.

According to reports reaching here, the clash erupted at around 1 pm and lasted for about half an hour during which the two NSCN-Unification cadres died.

Casualty, if any, on the other side was not known.

The two slain cadres were identified as 'Sgt Maj' Yanger Phom of Pungoi village, Longleng district of Nagaland and 'Pvt' Kavito Sema of Lithsami village, Zunheboto district.

The bodies were taken to Bhandari police station.

The situation was under control, police said.

Mention may be made that the spurt of factional clashes among the Naga underground groups have been going on and the incidents of violence are rising with each passing day.

More than 20 cadres belonging to all the militant groups have been killed so far in the ongoing violence in Nagaland in recent past.

Most of the deaths have been ascribed to clashes between the NSCN (U) and the NSCN-IM while a couple of clashes have been attributed to Accordist faction and Non-Accordist group of the NNC/FGN were witnessed in Phek district of Nagaland killing atleast one cadre from one of the groups some four days ago.