Armoury of Kuki militant outfits in ceasefire looted in Manipur

IMPHAL: Suspected militants belonging to the Kuki Independent Army (KIA) looted on Sunday 25 sophisticated weapons from the armouries of three militant groups staying in the designated camp under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement in Manipur, the police said. A police officer said that the militants of the KIA (also known as Kuki Independent Organization) looted at least 25 sophisticated arms in the early hours of Sunday from the designated camp of three militant groups at Churachandpur in Manipur. The Manipur-based KIA is not a signatory to the tripartite ceasefire pact with the government.

According to the official, the KIA guerrillas in large numbers attacked and overpowered those at Chungkhao designated camp in Churachandpur district bordering Myanmar. The KIA rebels, along with the looted weapons, managed to flee from the mountainous area without any bloodshed.

Around 25 Kuki militants belonging to three different outfits are staying in the Chungkhao designated camp. A high alert has been sounded, and the police authority has asked all the concerned police stations to remain vigilant to recover the looted weapons and nab the fleeing rebels.

The mountainous Churachandpur district in southern Manipur, which borders Myanmar and Mizoram, is home to various Kuki-Chin militant groups. The looting of weapons from the government to set up a designated militant camp took place three days after the Manipur police announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for any person who provides information leading to the arrest of KIA chief Thangkhongam Haokip, a.k.a. Davidson, a.k.a. Pareng Kom (40).

The militants of three outfits — the Kuki National Army (KNA), the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), and the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) — have been staying in the designated camp since the Centre and the Manipur government signed the tripartite agreement and SoO with these outfits on August 22, 2008. The Manipur government last month withdrew from the tripartite talks, and SoO signed with three Kuki militant outfits in the northeastern state even though the Union Home Ministry is yet to give its approval to the state government’s decision.

However, an umbrella organization of the Kuki outfits has dismissed the accusations. (IANS)

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