NEWS-Five Killed in Violence Ahead

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Five Killed in Violence Ahead of Indian Elections

               Reuters
               11-FEB-98

               GUWAHATI, India, Feb 11 (Reuters)
               - Separatist rebels gunned down five
               people in northeastern India on
               Wednesday, less than a week before
               the country goes to the polls, police
               said. 

               They said Paitie tribesmen killed five
               members of the Kuki tribe near the
               border with Myanmar (Burma)
               because the Kukis have refused to
               join in a separatist boycott of the
               elections, which are scheduled to
               start on February 16. 

               Police said 15 Paitie gunmen
               attacked the village of Dohailan in
               Manipur state's Churachandpur
               district. 

               India's northeast, comprising seven
               states with more than 200 ethnic
               groups, has been rocked by
               separatist violence for decades.
               Dozens of groups are fighting for
               either separate homelands or
               political autonomy. 

               India's mid-term elections are spread
               over four days until March 7.