Kuki National Liberation Front

Villagers of Sehao flee homes after KNLF unleashed violence

IMPHAL, May 11: Following the brutal assault on five villagers of Sehao and six labourers engaged in the construction of PMGSY road allegedly by cadres of KNLF, many Sehao villagers including women and children have started fleeing their homes in fear since last Saturday evening.

On receiving the news about the incident, a team of Kuki Student`s Organization (KSO) Khengjoi Block and former ADC Member of Songjang Constituency Paokhosei Haokip along with a media team visited the villagers and the victims who are taking shelter at the outpost of 6 Dogra Regiment located at Kemdo today.

The assaulted villagers have been identified as Seikhomang Haokip, 27 son of Late Jamkhotil Haokip, Chief of Senam; Seichon Haokip, 30 son of Late Onthang Haokip; Lunsei Haokip, 35 son of Thangsat Haokip; Lunkhosat Haokip, 29 son of Thangsat Haokip; Jamkhongam Haokip, 38 son of Late LimseiHaokip.

While the labourers assaulted by the KNLF have been identified as Sh Subash, 44 of Keirao Wangkhem (Work Supervisor), JCB driver Kh Subash, 30 son of Kh Ibo of Wabagai, JCB driver S Herojit, 19 son of Kanhai of Nongmaikhong, JCB driver Salam Romesh, 28 son of S Thoiba and JCB 2nd driver Chungkham Naoba, 20 son of Ibohal of Sekmaijing.

According to the victims, two armed cadres of Kuki National Liberation Front (KNLF) brutally assaulted the five JCB Drivers and a villager near Sehao village while returning back from a work site at around 6 pm last night. The cadres also assaulted four other villagers and the work supervisor who came to search the JCB drivers after they failed to return for long. After beating black and blue using woods, the armed cadres also threatened to kill all the villagers if they inform the army and media persons about the incident.

Fearing reprisal from the armed outfit, the villagers were compelled to flee their homes along with the labourers and took shelter at the Out Post of 6 Dogra Regiment. The Officers and personnel of 6 Dogra Regiment administered first aid treatment to all the assaulted individuals besides providing shelter and food for the villagers till Sunday morning.

After interacting with the villagers, Paokhosei Haokip, former ADC Member of Songjang and KSO Khengjoi Block made a temporary arrangement to accommodate the villagers at Khangbarol BDO Office as the villagers refused to return to the village fearing dire consequences.

Speaking to media persons, Seikhomang Haokip, Chief of Sehao who is also the vice president of KSO Khengjoi Block said that the incident of last night was not the first atrocity meted out by the KNLF cadres upon the villagers. There had been an incident where cadres of the armed outfit indiscriminately fired several rounds in the villagecreating fear psychosis among the villagers particularly to the women and children, he added.

Moreover, the cadres of the outfit also kidnapped one labourer engaged in the construction of the PMGSY road from the village on April 22 last but the labourer managed to escape from the captors. There had been another incident in which a Shaktiman Driver was tortured some days back. Since the said armed outfit established their designated camp at Semol, villagers of the area particularly the Sehao villagers cannot settle peacefully, lamented the Village Chief.

While appealing the concerned authority to shift the KNLF designated camp from the area, Seikhomang Haokip said that the villagers will not return to their homes until and unless the concerned authority shifted cadres of the outfit from their Semol designated camp.

Strongly condemning the action of the KNLF Cadres, Paokhosei Haokip who is also the Chief of New Songjang Village said such mindless action and atrocities of KNLF upon the innocent villagers and labourers should be condemned by all. He expressed gratitude to the 6 Dogra Regiment for providing assistance to the aggrieved villagers.

IMPHAL, May 24: The Kuki National Liberation Front (KNLF) has alleged that the protest carried out by some sections against setting up of designated camp of the outfit is under the instigation of the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF).

Speaking to media persons somewhere in Chandel district, KNLF secretary Tonglenlal Haokip alias Lalmoi, revealed that the KNLF is one of the 15 armed wings under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) that signed the Tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement on August 30, 2013 at the Banquet hall of 1st MR.

With the outfit entering in the SoO agreement on March 25, 2014, it petitioned the MHA NE division to establish a designated camp, he said.

Subsequently, the MHA responded positively, he said adding that the additional secretary (Home) on May 3, 2014, as instructed by the Ministry released an order giving green signal to its demand of setting up of designated camp at Simol Village under Khengjoy Sub-division, Chandel district, he continued.

At the same time, the chief of Simol village, Tilgoulen Haokip, had not objected to the move, he added.

Given the situation, the construction work began in full swing and altogether 40 cadres of KNLF who were under the security coverage of 9AR Moreh post were shifted at the camp on May 11, 2014 without any problems. Moreover, most of the cadres are from Khgenjoy sub-dvision, he continued.

Haokip, said that his group was taken by surprised when Kana Area Chief Association, Gunpi Area Chief Associatio and Chandel Naga Peoples’ Organisation on the open protest staged by them.

Owing to the prevailing situation the KNLF conducted an investigation and found out that the Chief association were summoned by the UKLF to attend a meeting on May 22, 2014.

UKLF warned the chiefs that they would imposed a fine of Rupees 10,000 before instructed them to opposed to the establishment of the camp, alleged Haokip.

According to Hoakip, Kana area and Gunpi are does not falls under Chakpikarong Sub-division and they are not related with the Khengjoy Sub-division.

The UKLF’s claimed of Chandel district being their ‘dominated area’ is beyond the ground rules of SoO, he asserted adding that none of the UKLF belong to Khengjoy Some Division.

The KNLF secretary clarified that the KNLF signed the SoO for peace process and not completely surrendered to the Government.

Before signing the SoO agreement the security was the only enemy of the KNLF however since it had entered into agreement it has no enemy including the UKLF as commonly perceived, he said.

Refuting the allegation levelled against the outfit that it has been extortion to saw mill owners and truckers is baseless, the KNLF secretary pointed out that its cadres in Simol Designated camp are unarm.

Tag: Kuki National Liberation Front

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