IMPHAL, June 27: The death toll in the Kuki-Paite clashes in Manipur's Churachandpur district has gone upto 20 with the recovery of more bodies from interior jungle areas, official sources said today.

The sources said the victims had been identified as 15 Paites and five Kukis and added that security personnel were deployed at all vulnerable points to prevent fresh outbreak of the clashes between the two tribal communities.The first clash was reported on Tuesday night when armed Kukis attacked the Saikul Paite village under Churachandpur police station killing nine Paite villagers and injured several others.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC had been imposed in the area since Wednesday morning preventing gathering of five or more persons.

Sources also said over 50 houses belonging to both the tribal communities were destroyed during the clashes and over thousands rendered homeless.

Meanwhile, a report from the district headquarters said that over 200 well-armed activists belonging to Zomi Revolutionary Army (a Paite underground organisation) had entered the Churachandpur district from their ``base camps'' at border area.

The armed activists were likely to attack Kuki-inhabited areas in the district and all security and police posts in the district have been put on maximum alert.

Chief Minister Rishang Keishing had visited the affected areas yesterday.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.