Militants kill seven Kukis in Manipur

IMPHAL, April 14: Seven Kuki villagers were shot dead and nine others seriously injured in a joint attack by suspected National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and Kuki Revolutionary Army militants in Awang Keithelmanbi village under Kangpokpi subdivision on Thursday night. The bodies of six villagers were found yesterday, while 10 injured persons have been admitted to hospital at Kangpokpi. Though three persons were later shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences here last night, one of them died. Sources said over 40 heavily-armed militants raided the village at 10 pm, seeking Kuki National Front (Military Council) rebels in the area. The militants surrounded the village and blocked all escape routes before overpowering the village guards and systematically searching the houses for cadre from the rival outfit. They took away 16 men from Awang Keithelmanbi to the adjoining village of Phoibung, three km away. There the victims were shot at after they were made to lie on the ground. Six of them died on the spot. Police sources said some village guards were among those killed. The villagers informed the Kangpokpi police station yesterday afternoon and a team, led by additional director-general of police C. Peter Ngahanyui, rushed to the site this morning. Security has been tightened in the area and a hunt was launched jointly by the Assam Rifles, CRPF and Manipur Rifles personnel to nab the assailants. Inspector-general of police (law and order) A. Romenkumar Singh told The Telegraph today that the situation is under control. A case has been registered at the Kangpokpi police station and investigation into the killing has started, he added. Singh said the security forces deployed in the area have been alerted. Awang Keithelmanbi is a large village with more than 500 houses. The villagers denied sheltering any Kuki militant in their midst. Observers said Thursday's attack may create a serious setback to the Naga-Kuki conflict. More than 2,000 people died in the ethnic violence that erupted in 1992. But tension between the two minor tribal groups in the state has subsided over the past couple of years. However, this week's killing may not spark off a fresh ethnic conflict because the Kuki Revolutionary Army and the NSCN(IM) - outfits belonging to the Kuki and Naga ethnic groups respectively - conducted the raid jointly, the observers added.