Civilian hurt in cops-KIA gun-fight
Source: Chronicle News Service / Kaimuanthang Mangte
Churachandpur, April 16 2023:
A civilian suffered a bullet injury in a shootout that broke out between a team of district police and suspected members of Kuki Independent Army (KIA) in Suangphuh village area under Henglep sub-division of Churachandpur district on Sunday around 2.30 pm.
Suangphuh village is located at a distance of about 80 km from Churachandpur town.
The injured civilian has been identified as Lhunpao.
He was hit by a stray bullet on his left knee.
There is no report of any casualties on both sides.
However, police were able to recover one US made carbine and three-country made SBBL guns from the encounter site.
Police sources said that the carbine belongs to KNF-Z group, from whom KIA militants looted earlier.
Mention may be made here that commander-in-chief of Kuki Independent Army/Kuki Independent Organisation (KIA/KIO) namely Davidson Haokip was declared wanted by police earlier with a cash reward of Rs 50,000 to anyone who could provide information about his whereabouts.
He is responsible for April 9 incident of raiding and looting 21 weapons from a designated camp of surrendered cadres of armed outfits which are signatory to the suspension of operation (SoO) agreement signed with the government.
The camp located near Chingkhojou village was set up to house cadres of SoO groups KNF-Z, UTLA and USRA.
Meanwhile, local source said that after the shootout, another three villagers are still traceless, leading to suspicion of either getting injured or dead in the gun battle.