Imphal/IBNS: At least 13 people were killed in a gunbattle between two unknown armed groups in Manipur's Tengnoupal district on Monday, reports said.

The bodies were recovered with multiple bullet wounds in a village in the northeastern state’s Tengnoupal district where the official said a “massive” gunfight was reported.

According to security forces, 13 bodies were recovered so far and their identities were yet to be ascertained but they appeared not to be locals.

The killings came seven months after deadly ethnic clashes between members of the majority Meitei group and the minority Kuki-Zo community over sharing government benefits and quotas.

The sporadic violence since May 3 in the remote state has killed at least 180 people and displaced tens of thousands of others.