NIA Court hot on the trail of 10 Kuki militants
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 16 2024:
The NIA Court Imphal West has issued non-bailable warrants of arrest against ten individuals including a member of Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and cadres of Kuki militant outfits KRA, KNF-MC, KNA-P/UPF in three different cases.
The ten individuals under the NIA scanner have been identified as:
1) Mamang Kipgen (35), son of Henkho Kipgen of Twikun village, Kangpokpi.
He is a member of the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) .
2) Lelen Hangsing (30) son of Khukhohao of Twikun village, Kangpokpi.
He is a cadre of Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) .
3) Gougou Lotzem (33), son of Heihao Lotzem of Twikun village, Kangpokpi.
He is a cadre of Kuki National Front Military Council (KNF-MC) .
4) Haogulal (29), son of Kamlien of Twikun village, Kangpokpi.
He is a cadre of KRA.
5) Lamkhogin Doungel alias Lamhin alias Gigin, son of Ngeljahao Doungel of Patjang Kanchup village, Kangpokpi.
6) LH Stephen of Kangpokpi.
He is a self-styled publicity secretary of KNA-P/UPF.
7) Sasat alias Boipu (45), son of Thongkhohao alias Tongkhao of Twikun village, Kangpokpi.
He is a cadre of KRA.
8) Sominthang Sitlhou (40), son of Lunkhosei Sitlhou of Patjang Kangchup, Kangpokpi.
He is a cadre of KRA.
9) Paojachup Sitlhou (22), son of Heihao Sitlhou of Patjang Kangchup village.
He is a cadre of KNF-MC.
10) Hemkhongam Hangshing, son of Haokhopao Hangshing of Kangchup village.
He is a cadre of KNF-MC.
The Special Judge NIA Imphal West issued the non-bailable warrant of arrest against the ten individuals following FIRs registered by Lamsang police.
They have been accused of firing on security forces and civilian settlements at Kangchup Chingkhong and burning down several houses of the Meiteis.
Lelen Hangshing, Gougou Lotzem, Haogulal, Lamkhogin Doungel, LH Stephen and Sasat were allegedly involved in the burning down of 15 houses at Kangchup Chingkhong on May 28 .
In another case, Lelen Hangshing, Sasat, Paojachup Sitlhou, Hemkhongam Hangshing and Sominthang Sitlhou were allegedly involved in the burning down of around five houses at Kangchup Chingkhong on June 2 .
CoTU member Mamang Kipgen along with members of Kuki militant outfits including Sasat, Sominthang Sitlhou and LH Stephen were allegedly involved in an attempt carried out by armed men to burn down houses at Kangchup Chingkhong on June 4, 2023, said a third case.
During the hearing today, the Investigating Officers said that the involvement of the accused persons have been supported by the sources collected during the investigation.
The ten persons belonging to different Kuki militant organisations are actively operating in the areas of K Songlung, Twikun Village, Patjang Village, Kharam Vaiphei and Potland villages, said the IOs.
The NIA Court, after hearing the submissions, issued non-bailable warrants of arrest against the ten persons.