More arms recovered from KIA
Source: Chronicle News Service / Kaimuanthang Mangte

Churachandpur, April 17 2023: In the follow up operation of the recent arms looting case by the armed Kuki Independent Army (KIA) from a designated camp of surrendered cadres of outfit bound by sus pension of operation (SoO) agreement and subsequent shootout in Churachandpur district on Sunday, district police have recovered more weapons on Monday.

The shootout between police and suspected KIA cadres took place near Songphu village, about 20 km north of Henglep, on Sunday around 2.40 pm, leaving one civilian injured.

After recovering some arms after the shootout, police further found several arms on Monday.

The arms and ammunition recovered by police include one Carbine with magazine, four Single Barrel (SBBL) guns, two AK 56 Rifles with magazines, three camouflage bags, two Chinese hand grenades, one lathode bomb, three pistols, 76 live rounds of AK 56 Rifles, 22 live rounds and three empty cases of SBBL, and four live rounds of 9mm.Mention may be made that one civilian namely Lhunkhopao Haokip (38) son of Khaingam of Kolchung village sustained bullet injury on his left knee in the shootout, and was evacuated to Churachandpur district hospital.

The injured civilian and five others were said to have been forced by KIA cadres to accompany them.

Three of them are in the police custody, police source said.

KIA is a non-SoO group and is also responsible for looting 25 weapons from the designated camp of the KNF-Z, UTLA and USRA, which are under tripartite talks with the Manipur and central governments.

With regard to Sunday's shootout, chief minister N Biren said: "The combined forces spotted some cadres of KIA/KIO.

Since it is a jungle area the visibility is poor, first rounds were fired from our side and then an exchange of fire happened.

The KIA party split and started running amidst the forests".

The CM further said, "We have so far recovered 5 arms belonging to KIA cadres and are mostly single barrel country-made weapons.

KIA also has AK rifles with them and they also fired back while running.

Blood stains are also seen on the route but as of now we cannot confirm any deaths".

Notably, the commander-in-chief of KIA/KIO namely Davidson Haokip was declared as wanted by the Manipur police earlier with a reward of Rs 50,000.The looting of weapons from the SoO camp took place just three days after the Manipur police announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for any-person, who provides information leading to the arrest of Thangkhongam Haokip alias Davidson (40), who hails from Matijang Khopi village in Churachandpur district bordering Myanmar.

He is accused of being involved in frequent kidnapping for ransom/extortion and bombing cases.

He is wanted in connection with two FIR cases registered at Churachandpur police station and eight other cases in the other police stations across Churachandpur district.

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