GUWAHATI: Three people were shot dead and a fourth beheaded as rival groups of "village volunteers", one keeping watch over their hamlet and the other on a post-midnight raid, engaged in one of the bloodiest clashes of the nearly two-month-old conflict in Manipur, along the Bishnupur-Churachandpur border early Sunday.At least five others were wounded in the gunfight that raged through the night, about 70km southeast of Imphal.

It was claimed that five villagers were taken hostage by assailants.

CM N Biren Singh visited the site, under Kumbi assembly seat, and assured the locals that the "security lapses" will be rectified.Manipur cuts curfew-relaxation period to five hours Soon after a bloody clash early on Sunday that claimed four lives and left five other injured, the Bishnupur district administration in Manipur slashed the curfew-relaxation period there from 12 hours to a fivehour window of 5am-10am.

The blood spill coincided with a sliver of hope from the hills as two Kuki militant outfits in ceasefire with the Centre and the state government lifted their blockade of Manipur’s supply lifeline, NH-2, at Kangui in Kangpokpi district to enable uninterrupted supply of essential commodities.

The highway links Imphal with Nagaland’s commercial hub Dimapur.

United People’s Front spokesperson Aaron Kipgen and his Kuki National Organisation counterpart Seilen Haokip issued a joint statement, saying the decision was in keeping with Union home minister Amit Shah’s “deep concern” and promise to “restore peace and harmony in the state, and alleviate the plight of people in general”.

“It is expected that the authorities concerned will take every measure to maintain peace and ensure the supply of essential commodities to the needy.

We take this opportunity to appeal to all peaceloving organisations and citizens in the state to...

take steps towards peace and communal harmony,” they said.

Sources in the security establishment said a “duty post manned by volunteers” on a mountain ridge, about 500m west of Khoijumantabi village in the foothills, had been attacked by “volunteers from the hills” past midnight on Saturday.

Around the same time, a gunfight was taking place in Cananphai village.

Those from the Cananphai and Langza “duty posts” pushed back the attackers.

Three volunteers from Khoijumantabi village were killed in the firing.

After the firefight, several houses in Langza were set on fire by the other group.

A villager identified as David Theik was beheaded.The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum said five innocent villagers were taken captive by the assailants.01:13Manipur violence: Security beefed up in Imphal amid rise in violenceWatchManipur CM Biren inspects on-ground situation at hills adjoining Bishnupur-Churachandpur