Culprit in Hengjang double murder slain, KNF claims
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, August 25 2021:
A man alleged to be one of the culprits in the Hengjang double murder case in 2019 was shot dead around 7 am at Bongbal Khullen of Phailengmol Island Block in Kangpokpi district under Maphou Dam Police Station.
The slain individual has been identified as one Sonkhothang alias David Haokip (22), s/o Lunjamang Haokip of BVengnom, Churachandpur.
A non-SoO Kuki militant outfit, Kuki National Front (Nehlun) group has immediately claimed responsibility for the killing on social media, stating that Sonkhothang alias David Haokip was a former cadre of SoO group KLO/KLA involved and in the double murder case of Hengjang village chief Thangkhotinlet alias Thangneo Kipgen and his nephew Thangminlun Kipgen on July 12, 2019 while alleging that David Haokip was an active cadre of Kuki National Liberation Army (KNLA).
KNF-N information & publicity secretary Gou Kuki said that David was awarded capital punishment as a retributive measure and for failing to pay heed to the group's earlier warning.
The outfit then asked parents whose wards are with the KNLA to call them back or they will face similar fate and no one shall blame KNF-N for any action.
It also cautioned that any civil society organisation leaders and chiefs of Phailengmol Island Block shall not provide shelter and operational base to KNLA cadres and if anyone is found violating the diktat, appropriate action will be initiated and no one should hold KNF-N responsible for any untoward incidents.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations of Phailengmol Island Block comprising Kuki Inpi, Kuki Women Union and KSO have strongly condemned the broad daylight killing of Sonkhothang.
While terming the incident as unfortunate, they appealed to all militant outfits to shun such killing and avoid roaming around with sophisticated arms in the villages which could create fear psychosis among the innocent children, women and villagers.