Mob torches KNO leader's house at CCpur
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 04 2023:
Angered over the decision to lift the blockade in Kangpokpi area, a group of miscreants set on fire the house of Kuki National Organisation (KNO) spokesperson Seilen Haokip at Songpi in Churachandpur last night at around 10.30 .
KNO is an umbrella group of 17 Kuki insurgent groups under the Suspension of Operation pact.
Haokip told The Indian Express that the incident took place around 11-11.30 pm and that no one was home at that time.
Haokip had written that they had been told to "extend an olive branch" by lifting the blockade "to put pressure on Meiteis to stop their offensive", and "the singular purpose of the decision was to expedite talks for political settlement" in the form of separate administration for Kuki-Zomi territories.
However, Haokip said that while the attack "appears" to be a fallout of the decision, there could still be other reasons.
He added that such an incident will not affect their decision on the blockade.
"It wasn't done as a mob attack.
It was done quietly in the night� When you're on a peace offensive, you cannot back down over an individual or two trying to show dissent.
Even if it's mob action, it's different," he said.
According to credible sources, the inferno gutted the house along with one car of the KNO spokesperson.
There however is no report of any casualty as the house was unoccupied at the time of the incident.
The joint statement of the United People's Front (UPF) and KNO which announced the withdrawal of the blockade was signed by Seilen Haokip and UPF's spokesperson Aaron Kipgen.
Though the blockade has been lifted, trucks transporting essential items are still reluctant to take the road as they have to pass Kangpokpi which is highly sensitive.
No trucks passed through Kangpokpi today and yesterday too.
Sources said that no Meetei drivers have taken the road since the opening of the highway stretch in Kangpokpi area.
The blockade along National Highway 2 (Imphal- Dimapur road), which got lifted on Sunday, was imposed by a group of Kuki volunteers at eight different areas of Kangpokpi for about 2 months after the Meetei-Kuki clash broke out without making any official statement.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), Sadar Hills had also lifted the blockade on June 5 conditionally from 10 am to 2 pm for seven days but the same was not approved by Kuki people and it led to the attack on COTU's chairman and secretary.
Again on July 2, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF) which signed the tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement announced the lifting of the blockade, citing "Amit Shah's deep concern to restore peace in Manipur" .