Assam Rifles' killing of Kuki rebel triggers tension along India-Myanmar border

IMPHAL: Tensions are simmering in Manipur's Kangpokpi district, where the posted Assam Rifles jawans are having to face resentment from local Kukis and also those who have seemingly crossed over to the state from Myanmar.

Yesterday, a member of a Kuki armed group which is in a suspension of operations agreement was reportedly shot dead by the Assam Rifles in Kangpokpi district a few kilometers away from the district headquarter.

Sources claimed the member was armed and tried to use a handgun upon an Assam Rifles personnel who was not on duty while some said the armed man kidnapped another man who happens to be an Assam Rifles personnel at gunpoint and the AR posted near the area intervened by shooting the armed individual.

Meanwhile, a mob from the area protested that the individual was not armed and it was an extrajudicial act from the Assam Rifles to kill the man.

A source, however, claimed the man was indeed armed and is a member of an underground group in a ceasefire.

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Meanwhile, sporadic public protests have been reported from some parts of Tengnoupal district particularly around Moreh where the police tried to evict the Kuki inhabitants who had illegally entered India and made some settlements on the Indian side near the border.

But the migrants, joined by Kukis from India, were able to stop the eviction.

Earlier this year, Kuki tribesmen torched an Assam Rifles outpost in Manipur and burnt down two vehicles on Saturday after a local man was allegedly killed by the troops on Friday night.

The police said that tension prevailed in the Twilang area of Manipur's Kangpokpi district after the angry mob stormed the Gelnel outpost of the 44th Battalion of Assam Rifles.

A Gypsy and one Tata pick-up vehicle of the force were burnt down by the mob, which demanded the arrest of Major Alok Sathe, the Post Commander of E Company of the 44th Assam Rifles.

The mob alleged that Sathe along with a rifleman named Amar and two others in civil dress were responsible for shooting dead one Mangboilal Lhouvum.

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