Kuki insurgent leader in Manipur shot dead, blockade over abduction of Meitei youths hits Thoubal

Guwahati: Unidentified miscreants shot dead a "commander" of a Kuki National Army (KNA), an insurgent group, in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district in conflict-hit Manipur on Monday night.

Sources said the victim, Satkhohao Haokip, was killed near his house at Leisang village. Although the assailants remained unidentified, some Kuki organisations suspected involvement of miscreants belonging to the Kuki community.

KNA has been in suspension of operations agreement with the government.

Following this, at least six civil society organisations including Kuki Inpi Churachandpur, held a meeting on Tuesday in which they condemned the incident. They said the killing of Haokip by miscreants belonging to his own community was unfortunate when the community was engaged in conflict with the Meitei community. They appealed to all not to repeat such incidents.

Blockade over "abduction" of Meitei youths:

Protesters belonging to the Meitei community on Tuesday blocked the highway in Meitei-dominated Thoubal district and imposed a shutdown to register their protests against the abduction of two Meitei youths allegedly by Kuki insurgents. Three youths were abducted on September 27, when they had inadvertently moved into Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district. One of them was released on the same day but two others remained traceless.

CM N. Biren Singh on Sunday said Kuki insurgents were involved in the abduction and asked DGP Rajiv Singh to secure safe release of the two. The incident, however, triggered protests in the Meitei-dominated Valley districts.