Post arrest of KNF (N) cadre : Tension grips Itham village
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 20 2016: Tension gripped Itham village in Imphal East district after KNF (N) allegedly threatened the villagers to kill them if any of them enter the neighbouring Kuki village.

The threat came after the arrest of a KNF (N) cadre by BSF on January 16 .

Itham is an interior village of Imphal East district surrounded by Naga and Kuki villages.

Speaking to reporters at the village, Itham Naharol Yaipha Thourang Lup secretary T Somoijit said that Kuki militants have been constantly harassing the transporters and workers engaged in quarry works in the village.

On January 16, four heavily armed KNF (N) cadres came in an inebriated condition at the quarry site and asked the truck drivers to pay tax.

The militants started thrashing the drivers as they told the armed cadres that they had already paid their taxes, Somoijit said.

As the workers tried to intervene, the armed cadres opened several rounds of fire, Somoijit said.

He further said that infuriated by the action of the militants, the workers chased the militants with whatever tools they had in their hands, Somoijit said.

After pursuing for some distance, one of the cadres was found hiding inside a thick bush while others managed to escape, he said.

Although, the irate workers tried to bum the militant dead inside the bush, some Itham elders saved him, Somoijit said.

Later, a BSF team arrived at the village and arrested him along with an AK-47 rifle, he said.

Somoijit added that the villagers never take KNF (N) as their enemy.

However, they are fed up with the harassments meted out to them by the armed cadres, he said.

He further said that some armed cadres fired several rounds towards Itham village from a place located between Itham and Seichang hills yesterday evening.

After this incident, the villagers were discussing to resolve the matter with the armed outfit peacefully.

However, in the meantime, some Kuki chiefs handed over a threat note issued by KNF (N) to Itham villagers.

The note said that any Itham villager who enters neighbouring Kuki village would be executed, Somoijit said.

Itham villagers must pay Rs 10 lakh for the AK-47 rifle seized by BSF apart from bearing all the expenses required for the release of the arrested cadre if the matter is to be settled peacefully.

The note also said that Itham villagers must gift a pig to KNF (N) according to Kuki customary law, Somoijit said.

Maintaining that they have not committed any wrong against KNF (N), Somoijit said that they would never apologise to the armed outfit.

Rather they would also not allow any Kuki villager to enter Itham, he said.

Saying that the villagers have decided to purchase license guns to protect themselves, Somoijit urged the Government to extend support and cooperation in this regard.

He also demanded the Government to permanently open a security post at the village.

Somoijit also thanked Assam Rifles and BSF for guarding the village on rotational basis after the incident.

Comment