Imphal, Nov 5 (IANS) Security forces recovered several foreign-made rifles from Manipur’s Churachandpur district after four armed cadres of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) were killed in an encounter, officials said on Wednesday.

A defence spokesman said that after the encounter with the UKNA militants, the security forces in the subsequent search operation recovered sophisticated foreign-made arms and other materials in the Khanpi-Henglep region of Churachandpur District.

Recovered arms included one 7.62 mm self-loading rifle, one AK-56, one MA4 MK II rifle, one under-barrel grenade launcher with magazines, three single-barrel rifles, ammunition, bulletproof jackets, tactical vests, Motorola communication sets and other warlike stores of the armed cadres.

The spokesman said that in a well-coordinated intelligence-based operation, security forces neutralised four armed cadres of the UKNA in the Khanpi-Henglep region of Churachandpur District on Tuesday.

The operation was launched in response to escalating atrocities committed by UKNA, including the recent killing of a village chief in Henglep, widespread intimidation and extortion of civilians, schools, and financial institutions in the region, demanding amounts ranging from Rs 5 to 50 lakh from them.

UKNA is a banned insurgent outfit operating primarily in the hill districts of Manipur. The outfit is not a signatory to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, unlike several other Kuki and Zomi groups that have entered ceasefire arrangements with the government of India and the state government in August 2008.

Known for its involvement in armed violence, extortion, and disruption of public life, UKNA has posed a persistent threat to peace and stability in the region, the spokesman stated.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, an operation was launched in the Khanpi and Henglep region on Tuesday early morning. The team of security forces detected movement of armed insurgents in the general area of Khanpi, who were hailed and urged to surrender peacefully. However, the heavily armed UKNA cadres opened indiscriminate automatic fire on the security forces, resulting in gunshot injuries to three personnel of the team. In the ensuing exchange of sustained fire from both sides, four UKNA cadres were neutralised.

Subsequent searches recovered the arms and other materials of the militants from the areas. Additionally, during search operations, a column of Assam Rifles discovered and destroyed a UKNA camp, recovering three single-barreled rifles, bulletproof jackets, tactical vests, Motorola communication sets, and other warlike stores.

This successful operation reflects the unwavering commitment of security forces to safeguard innocent lives and restore peace and stability in Manipur, the defence spokesman said.

Meanwhile, earlier on July 22, in a fratricide incident between UKNA and the Chin Kuki Mizo Army (CKMA), at least five cadres of the CKMA were killed in a fierce gun battle in Manipur’s Noney district.

A Manipur police official in Imphal had said that in the intra-group fight at Daveijang jungle areas near Longpi village in Noney district of western Manipur, five militants of CKMA were gunned down. The mountainous area is a very remote area, and hardly any communication is available there.

Like the UKNA, the CKMA also did not sign the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the government in 2008. The CKMA outfit is a newly formed militant group. The motive for the gunfight seems to be a leadership issue. Outlawed militant outfit UKNA had claimed responsibility for the July 22 attack.

–IANS

sc/dpb