Frightened on seeing KNF cadres, Work Minister's escorts open indiscriminate firing
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 02 2013: On encountering some armed cadres of Kuki National Front (KNF) at Kangpokpi, the escort personnel of Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar got panicked and fired hundreds of rounds indiscriminately today.

Minister Ratankumar along with MLA of Kangpokpi Constituency Nemcha Kipgen was on an inspection tour for construction of roads and bridges under Kangpokpi Constituency.

While returning after inspecting major work sites under Kangpokpi Constituency, Minister Ratankumar and his entourage including MLA Nemcha Kipgen and social worker O Henry happened to encounter seven/eight cadres of KNF (P) in full combat dress armed with Kalashnikovs at around noon near Parsian Village towards north of Nongpok Keithelmanbi before reaching Gopibung.

According to reports culled from the spot, the pilot escort vehicle of MLA Nemcha Kipgen remained behind near Keithelmanbi High School.

At that time, the MLA's vehicle overtook the pilot vehicle and was moving ahead of all vehicles in the team.

Frightened on seeing KNF cadres, Work Minister's escorts open indiscriminate firing

Suddenly, the MLA and her team stopped and came out of the vehicle.

Works Minister and his escort personnel also reached the spot where the MLA had halted.

However, the escort personnel of Works Minister started to fire indiscriminately on spotting some cadres in combat dress who were armed with AK-47 rifles.

According to eye-witnesses, the escort personnel had mostly blank-fired, but the armed cadres escaped through the bushes without any retaliation.

The additional escort team and other police personnel also joined in firing more than 200 rounds.

The scenario was akin to a battle field with hundreds of gunshots, eye-witnesses said.

After several minutes of indiscriminate firing, Works Minister Ratankumar and MLA Nemcha Kipgen were escorted safely out of the place.

The inspection tour was shortened owing to the incident.

Later, the team had a sumptuous lunch at the residence of MLA Nemcha Kipgen.

She termed the incident as very unfortunate.

Works Minister Ratankumar stated that his escort personnel had fired on seeing some armed cadres.

He could not understand properly how the incident had happened.

He further said that the inspection was done under the supervision of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, who has given top priority to development of hill areas.

Rs.108 crores has been earmarked for constructing roads and bridges in hill areas under Special Plan Assistance and another Rs.277 crores would be obtained from Asian Development Bank, he noted.

Meanwhile, addressing media persons at Manipur Press Club today evening, the member of Joint Monitoring Committee (JMG) of KNF Rohan, on behalf of Secretary of Information and Publicity LH Stephen, said that the cadres of the outfit had not fired a single bullet to the Ministerial team as the cadres are aware of the ground rules of Suspension of Operation (SoO) .

The incident happened when four armed cadres of the outfit were sent by the Camp Commander to bring back four cadres who had gone out of the Ebenezer Camp without permission.

The cadres were returning to the Camp when the escort personnel of Works Minister encountered them, he stated.

Rohan termed the incident as unfortunate and expressed regret at the misunderstanding.