CCpur police on KIA trail , several arms recovered post encounter
Source: The Sangai Express

Churachandpur, April 17 2023: A special team of Churachandpur police that has been trailing the armed group of KIA/KIO after the fierce encounter in the district yesterday has recovered several arms and ammunition.

The team has recovered one AK-47 Rifle, a tactical vest, a Chinese hand-grenade, and a diary containing several contact numbers.

The items were recovered from the site of the encounter while the police personnel combed the area today.

Notably, the intense gunfight occurred on Sunday afternoon at a location between Kolchung and Songphu village, about 20 kms north of Henglep Sub-Divisional HQs.

Sources said one Village Authority member of Kolchung village, identified as Lhunkhopao, was injured in the encounter.

Seven villagers including Lhunkhopao were reportedly taken along by the KIA/KIO members prior to the encounter.

CCpur police on KIA trail , several arms recovered post encounter

While the police managed to free five of them during the encounter, the whereabouts of the two others are still not known.

Yesterday, moments after the gun battle, police had recovered one Ladies Carbine with 1 magazine; 4 Single Barrel (SBBL); 2 AK 56 Rifles and 2 magazines, 3 camouflage bags; 2 Chinese hand-grenades, 1 Lethod live round, 3 pistols; 76 live AK 56 ammos; 22 Single Barrel ammos and four 9mm ammos.

The non-SoO group Kuki Independent Army/Organisation is reportedly headed by one Thangkhongam Haokip, alias Davidson.

He was declared wanted by the police on April 4 and carries a cash reward of Rs 50,000 .

Thangkhongam Haokip reportedly has at least 9 police cases registered against him for his involvement in kidnapping, extortion, and bombing.

Four days after he was declared wanted, about 15 men from the armed group reportedly raided and looted several arms and ammunition from the SoO Camp of United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA), Kuki National Front-Zogam (KNF-Z) and United Socialist Revolutionary Army (USRA) located near Chongkhozou village.

Ever since, the police have been trailing the armed group and their movement.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by police today said their action was based on specific input received about the presence of KIA (Kuki Independent Army) cadres at Songphu.

A special team of the police under the supervision of Deshorjit Singh, Addl Superintendent of Police (Ops), Churachandpur and Shivanand Surve, Superintendent of Police, Churachandpur took part in the operation.

Columns of 36 AR and 9 AR under the aegis of 27 Sector AR Headquarters, Churachandpur, also launched cordon and search operations in different areas of Henglep in a bid to cut off escape routes, it said.

The police, however, made no mention of the injured or the villagers rescued.

The information about the AK 47 Rifle, a Chinese hand-grenade and a diary that were reportedly recovered today were also not mentioned.

It however, said the operation against KIA is ongoing and further investigation is underway.