CKLA duo held with arms, opium; search Ops continue
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 23 2023:
Two active cadres of the armed Chin Kuki Liberation Army (CKLA) were arrested along with huge cache of arms, 2.5 kg opium and Rs 4,86,500 in cash by personnel of 36 AR from Cheljang area in Churachandpur district on Monday.
The arrested cadres have been identified as Ngamkhosei Baite (32) s/o Thangkholet Baite of Khonomphai and Lunminthang Haokip (25) s/o Jangkhongam Haokip of Teisaljang village of Churachandpur district.
Both had joined CKLA in 2020 .
Two 5.56 mm INSAS Rifles, one MQ Assault Rifle, one AK 47 Rifle, one M16 Rifle, one Sniper Rifle telescope, two AK 47 magazines, one 5.56 mm INSAS Rifle magazine, one M16 magazine, one sniper magazine, forty-eight 7.62mm Ball ammunition, fifty-seven 5.56 INSAS Ball ammunition, four 7.62mm Sniper Ball ammunition, one Binocular, four Radio sets, one Radio set charger, one Burmese sword, one khukri, three Aadhaar cards, one Pan Card, one purse, 2.5 kg of opium and cash amounting Rs 4,86,500 were also recovered from the arrested duo.
On the other-hand, joint teams of state and central forces continued to conduct search operations on Monday, and also destroyed several newly set up bunkers.
According to a police report, a combined team of Imphal East district police, 18 AR, 16 AR and 37 E-Coy BSF conducted search operation from Dolaithabi hill till Sadang hilltop on Monday from 11.30 am till 2.30am during which five new bunkers found set up in the area were dismantled immediately.
However, there is no report of any arrest made or recovery of weapons.
A joint team of Churachandpur district police, 48/11/13-E ITBP and G/183 Battalion BSF also carried out search operation at Leisang village and surrounding areas under Churachandpur PS from 9.30 am till 11 am on Monday and scanned 45 houses and verified 51 people while Kakching district police conducted search operation at Kakching Ningthou Pareng from 6am till 7 am on Monday.
Altogether 50 houses were searched and 70 people verified but no arrest or recovery of weapons made.
Imphal West district police carried out a similar search operation at Pratap Gali, Ibohal Cycle area and Nambul riverside from 2 pm till 2.30 pm on Monday.
During the operation, 102 people were verified, out of which 5 of them who did not possess identification documents were handed over to City PS for further verification.
Meanwhile, three militants of different underground outfits, including two active cadres of Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), were arrested with huge cache arms and ammunition at different places in operations across the state in the past 24 hours.
Based on intelligence inputs, the central security forces launched an operation at Sangaikot village in Churachandpur district bordering Myanmar on Monday morning during which the two cadres of the KLA were arrested along with huge cache arms and ammunition from a hideout in the village, the police said.
The arrested persons along with the recovery items were handed over to the concerned police station for further proceeding, the Manipur police added.
The KLA formed in 1992 by Paozangam Letkholun has been demanding creation of a separate state for the Kuki people in India and Myanmar, and to resolve conflicts of ethnic identity, and demanding self-determination.
Earlier, the Manipur police detained one active member of an underground group from Imphal-West district and recovered a huge cache of ammunition and explosives.
The accused person along with the seized items was handed over to the Imphal West .district police in Manipur.
The recovered arms and explosives are: 68 live rounds of 40 mm Lathode Ammunition (UBGL), 573 7.62 live rounds of ammunition, 294 5.56 live rounds of ammunition and 379 7.62 live rounds of ammunition.