Imphal, September 11, 2009: Strongly charging that the four KLA cadres were gunned down by the troops of 12 Maratha Li after detaining then the Kuki National Organisation has urged the Union ministry of home affairs to initiate investigation into the incident and return of the weapons and ammunitions seized from the KLA.

The body also demanded compensation into the families of the victims of the incident including the family of the civilian driver.

On September 7 last by 12 Maratha Light Infantry (MLI) gunned down four KLA cadres along with the driver of the truck they came with at Mukotchepu under Litan police station of Ukhrul district.

TS Haokip, secretary (defense) Kuki National Organization (KNO) who is also convener of the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) of the ground rules of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) signed by KNO with the Centre and state government on one side in August 2008 in a press briefing late last night at Jangnomphai village in Churachandpur district where the funeral rites of the four slain cadres performed said that the group is to engage in political dialogue to resolve the problems of the Kuki people within the Constitution of India.

The funeral rites of the four cadres were performed together yesterday with due revolutionary salute from the 11 outfits under the KNO.

Speaking to a group of media persons, the secretary (defense), KNO said that this is the first major incident after the signing of SoO on August 10, 2005 with the Army under the defense ministry of India and with the government of Manipur and government of India on August 22, 2008. The Army should take the responsibility for the killings as well as the violation of the ground rules of SoO and any problem that arises as a consequence of the incident, he added.

Terming the incident as very unfortunate for both sides, the convenor of the JMG said that with the progress of peace due to SoO, the two sides are about to start peace dialogue within a year when this unfortunate incident occurred.

He demanded that 12 MLI should return all the weapons along with ammunition which were seized from the cadres.

He informed that the KNO have five designated camps which are all recognized by the government of Manipur and government of India, and one is still under consideration.

He further informed that the government have issued ID only to 25% of the KNO cadres, but those who were killed by the 12 MLI on September 7 were possessing their ID at that time.

TS Haokip said that five/six cadres of KNO were reported for breaking the ground rules of SoO but they have been appropriately punished for their actions.

In a letter to the minister of home affairs, government of India, the secretary (home), KNO, T.Antone Kuki stated that the incident that occurred on September 7 shows that the activity of the 12 MLI in regard to compliance to SoO ground rules is grossly wanting.

Giving a detailed account of the incident based on eyewitnesses, the letter stated that on September 6, Gorrey, PRO of Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), which is one of the eleven armed groups of KNO, sought and received permission from major Akshay and captain Kausal of 23 Assam Rifles (AR) for ten cadres of KLA to carry out routine operation near Jaolen, a Kuki village in Ukhrul district.On September 7, the CO of 23 AR sent a message to KLA asking them to return to their base camp.

Complying with the CO's message, the KLA cadres mounted a truck at about 5:30 p.m.and set out towards their base camp.

En route, between Mongkot village and Sangkai village along NH 150, a column of 12 MLI stopped the truck and asked the cadres to dismount and identify themselves.

The leader of the KLA cadres, Lt.Thangkhochon @ Roman was blindfolded and interrogated by captain Vivek of 12 MLI.

Thangkhochon informed captain Vivek that they belong to KLA of KNO, who are signatory to SoO and requested him to speak to captain Kaushal over cell phone so that he may be apprised of the prior permission obtained for their routine operation.

Captain Vivek spoke to captain Kaushal, but disregarded his response.

Captain Vivek permitted the PRO of KLA, Gorrey to leave on his motorbike.

Thereafter, captain Vivek ordered the KLA cadres to lay down their weapons, following which they were beaten and shot at directly.

Four of the cadres and the truck driver died on the spot while five managed to escape unhurt and one is in the custody of 12 MLI, stated the letter.

Stating that the untoward incident involving KLA and 12 MLI is deeply disturbing to KNO, the letter cautioned that there may be attempts to refer to the incident as an "encounter", but that would not be acceptable because in a situation involving an encounter, it is highly unlikely that the casualties would be that of one party's only.

The primary concern of KNO now is to restore confidence in its relationship with the Army, but clearly, the onus of responsibility does not lie with KNO, added the letter to the Union home minister.

The letter urged the Union home minister to intervene in this unfortunate incident so that they do not recur and also to order appropriate arrangements to redress the grieving relatives of the hapless KLA victims.

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