Police accuse Kuki outfit for violating SoO

Imphal | March 16 : Manipur police today arrested a member of Suspension of Operation (SoO) signatory United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) while engaging in ransom kidnapping. On the charge of violating the ground rule of SoO, an investigation is set to be initiated against UKLF by the police.
 According to Jayanta, superintendent of Bishnupur police, yesterday at about 7:30 pm a mason named Oinam Sanatomba Singh, 55, s/o O Laxman Singh of Kiyamgei Khoiru Leikai, police station Irilbung, who was engaged in the construction of culvert at Gelmol Lamkhai along National Highway 150, was kidnapped from his work site for ransom by 4-5 armed undergrounds suspected to be Kuki militants who came on a motorcycle and an Activa scooter.
Following this a strong team of Bishnupur police commando and a column of 16 Maratha Light Infantry of Sengpangjar Post was promptly mobilized today at about 7:30 am on receiving the information about the kidnapping, 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, said the police.
An extensive search operation followed in Molsang Kuki village located at Thangjing hill range on the western side of Tronglaobi village wherefrom the combined team managed to rescue the kidnapped person at about 12:20 pm by overpowering the militants who was guarding the kidnapped person. The kidnapped person was kept in an isolated house in the village. While the others managed to escape from the scene, Thagminlen aka Lelen, 30, s/o Ngulkhohen Lhungdim of Tonglhang village in Chandel district, at present staying in Tuibong near Peace Ground in Churachandpur district, who was guarding the hideout, was arrested. One 9 mm pistol loaded with 2 live rounds and a Honda Activa bearing registration number MN01N-1817 were recovered from the his possession.
On further verification the arrested person has revealed that he is an active member of UKLF which is one of the signatory of the tripartite SoO. Thangminlen, the arrested rebel member, has also revealed to the police about his involvement in the kidnapping of Sanatomba Singh on March 15. The other members of the kidnapping squad who managed to flee from the spot have been identified by Thangminlen as Tilpao Haokip aka Papao, 35, commander of UKNF Sugnu area, James from Chandel, presently staying in Churachandpur, and finance assistant of UKLF and Mamang Haokip, 25, of Koite village in Churachandpur. The involved UKLF cadres are working under the command of self-styled lieutenant of UKLF Tilpao Haokip aka Papao, 35, commander of Sugnu area, said the police.



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