IMPHAL, March 16: In a major breach of the Suspension of Operation between various Kuki militant outfits, the state government and the centre, a signatory of the SoO UKLF had allegedly kidnapped a person for ransom, however the Bishnupur district police managed to rescue the person today.
At the same time, the Bishnupur district police had informed that it has apprised the authority concerned about the violation of ground rules by the signatory group of the SoO, as various SoO signatories has been denying their involvement from various such incidents where they have breached SoO ground rules.
A press meet was held today in this connection at the office chamber of the Superintendent of Police, Bishnupur district. Briefing media persons in this regards the district SP, K. Jayenta Singh, said that at about 7: 30 am today on receipt of information that a head mason presently engaged in the construction of a culvert at Gelmol Lamkhai along the NH-150 had been kidnapped from his worksite by some cadres of a signatory group of SoO who came on a motorcycle and a Honda activa on March 15 at around 7pm, a team of Bishnupur commandos with a column of 16 Maratha Light Infantry, Sengpangjar Post was mobilized to conduct search operation in the suspected hideout areas of the Kuki militants to rescue the kidnapped person and also to apprehend the involved militants.
During the course of extensive search operation the combined team rescued the victim from Molsang Kuki village located at Thangjing hill range on the western side of Tronglaobi village, confined in an house by overpowering the militants who were guarding the kidnapped person today at 12: 30 am and arrested one militant and recovered one 9mm pistol loaded with 2 live rounds along with one Honda Activa No. MN01N/1817, said the SP.
The SP said that on verification and investigation, the arrested militant identified himself as Thangminlen alias Lelen, 30, s/o of Ngulkhohen Lhungdim of Tonglhang village, Chandel at present staying at Tuibong, near Peace Ground, Churachandpur an active member of UKLF which is one of the UG organizations bound by SoO with the government.
On further verification, it is revealed that the arrested UKLF cadre with another three cadres namely one Tilpao Haokip alias Papao, 35, Commander UKLF Sugnu area, James of Chandel A/P CCP (Finance Asstt.) and Mamang Haokip, 25, of Koite village, Churachandpur had kidnapped the victim from the worksite located at Gelmol Lamkhai on March 15, for ransom. Moreover the involved UKLF cadres are working under the command of one s/s lt. of UKLF namely, Papao alias Tilpao Haokip, 35, commander of Sugnu area and investigation is underway said the SP.
In the meantime, the SP said that the police in the state are having hard times handling militant cadres especially militant groups under agreement with concerned governments.
The SP maintained that even though the police are able to arrest signatory militant cadres under agreement involved in anti social activities, the next day the respective outfit denies their involvement and at the same time claims individuals involved in the activities are not their cadres.
Noting such manipulations the Bishnupur Police has officially apprise the authority concern to look into such incidents, the SP added.
