Ikou-Sapormeina road work in progress under its protection, claims KRA
Clarifies on shooting woman at Konghom Amia work site on June 17 night
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 22 2014:
Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) Saturday claimed the black topping work taken up on the road stretch from Ikou to Sapormeina in Sadar Hills of Senapati district is in progress because of the outfit's protection provided to the contractors and labourers.
Several elements have been hampering the progress of the road development work by kidnapping contractors and labourers for ransom, but this has been put to a halt after intervention by the outfit, T Simte, publicity secretary of KRA claimed while talking to pressmen somewhere in Sadar Hills area.
Complaints from the public have been pouring in with regard to threats and diktats from several underground groups on the contractors demanding ransoms, he said, adding the KRA has been monitoring the black topping work.
But now KRA has solved the problem following which work progress has been witnessing along the road, Simte said, while warning that further threat from any underground outfit will not be tolerated.
He said a group of armed KRA rebels rushed to the work site at Konghom Amia on June 17 last around 7:30 pm after receiving inputs regarding presence of some rebels from an unknown underground outfit.
Simte narrated that upon reaching there, KRA rebels found an unidentified woman talking on phone but she fled the site and hid herself in a dark corner when the KRA asked her to halt and identify herself.
It was then the KRA rebels shot her.
He said that the woman was wounded in the attack and taken to hospital, and added KRA is providing monetary aid to her for the medical expenses.
The outfit has been negotiating with Kuki adults in a bid to resolve the issue arising out of the attack, Simte informed.
He further rejected the press statements issued by the Kuku National Front (KNF) over the Konghom Amia incident as unjustified, saying the outfit has no right to meddle in the issue.
Simte also asked KNF if the group has been supporting extortionists.
Both KRA and KNF are signatory groups of suspension of operation (SoO) agreements signed with both Central and State Governments.
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