Correspondent
IMPHAL, Sep 5: At least two suspected UKNA (United Kuki National Army), a non-SoO armed group, were killed during a counter insurgency operation in Manipur’s interior Churachandpur district on September 2, a delayed official source said on Saturday.
The two suspects were killed during a high intensity firefight between a joint team of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles and the cadres of the UKNA near Phaibung village under Henglep subdivision of Churachandpur district, the source said.
The security forces further recovered three automatic rifles and one 40mm Lathode along with a large quantity of war-like stores in the aftermath operation, the source added.
The official source said that during the operation, the joint team intercepted a hideout of UKNA near Phaibung village.
Maintaining complete surprise, the team reached close to the target area and challenged the insurgents who immediately responded with high intensity automatic fire.
The joint team retaliated to the fire and after the ensuing firefight, the militants were pushed back. Two cadres of the UKNA were eliminated as per Technical Intelligence and Human Intelligence inputs, the source said.
After the cross firing ceased, the joint team carried out a search of the area and recovered three automatic rifles and one 40mm Lathode along with a large quantity of war-like stores, it added.
After searching, the camp was destroyed, it added.
The United Kuki National Army (UKNA) is a banned armed group which has not signed any ceasefire or suspension of operation (SoO) agreement with the government.
The group, active in Churachandpur district, has been resorting to armed struggle demanding a separate union territory or homeland outside the current state structure of Manipur.
Officials linked the UKNA members to violent acts, including firing incidents near resettlement areas for displaced people and arrests involving weapons.
The security forces have been conducting operations against the group and during one of the operations on June 16 last, a cadre of the group was killed in Henglep sub-division where the latest operation that killed two cadres reported.