Suspected Kuki Independent Army (KIA) militants looted arms and ammunition

Imphal. Suspected Kuki Independent Army (KIA) militants looted arms and ammunition from a ‘Suspension of Operation’ (SOO) camp in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, bordering Myanmar. Police said on Sunday that the SOO camp is the place where the members of the militant outfit had signed a ‘suspension of operation’ agreement with the government.

KIA militants “overpowered” people present at the SOO camp under Henglep sub-division of the district at around 1 am and recovered a large quantity of sophisticated weapons including explosives from them, a police official told PTI. And looted ammunition.

“A massive search operation has been launched on the routes through which the militants are suspected to have fled, but no arrests have been made so far,” he said. ‘Commander-in-Chief’ Thangkhongam Haokip declared ‘wanted’ for his involvement in ‘kidnapping cases’.

The state government has announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for information about him. The government has set up at least 14 camps for SOO militants in various hill districts of the state. The state and central governments are holding tripartite talks with at least 25 Kuki organisations. The SOO agreement was signed in 2008 to start the political dialogue.