Nongbrang/ Thoubal (Manipur), Dec 24 (ANI): Villagers from Nongbrang village near Yairipok in Thoubal district of Manipur chased a group of suspected militants and beat them to death.

The incident took place when the rebels, believed to be members of the Kuki National Front (President) faction, launched an attack on the village injuring three women.

The villagers alleged that the Kuki militants extorted money from vehicles passing through the area as well as the residents and local shop keepers.

Whenever the villagers and shopkeepers did not respond to the demands of the rebels, they were assaulted and their belongings such as mobile phones snatched away.

T Inaobi Singh, Inspector of Yairipok Police Station said that at least twenty suspected Kuki militants swooped down on the village and attacked the defenceless residents.n retaliation, the villagers garnering utmost courage chased the attackers among whom two died.

Earlier, the residents of Nongbrang had staged a public demonstration blocking the Yairipok-Nongpok Keithelmanbi Road to voice their displeasure at the militants' efforts at extortion and the state apathy in providing security to the villagers.

Nongbrang is primarily a non-Kuki inhabited village. (ANI)