Imphal, October 3: Tensions escalated in Manipur’s Chandel district after the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF), a militant outfit under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, issued a warning to Manipur Police over an alleged raid at the residence of one of its leaders.
In a statement released on Friday, the UKLF condemned what it described as a “late-night raid” conducted on Wednesday at Sajik Tampak by Chandel Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Kumar and his team. The outfit called the incident “serious in nature” and cautioned that it would not remain a “mute spectator” if similar actions continued.
The group, which has been observing the SoO pact along with other Kuki militant outfits while pursuing a “political solution” for the Kuki-Zo people, alleged that the raid violated the ground rules of the agreement.
Manipur Police, however, maintained that the operation was not directed at the UKLF but was aimed at apprehending a suspected drug kingpin in T Kotlen village of Sajik Tampak. “On Wednesday, acting on credible intelligence, Chandel District Police conducted an operation in Sajik Tampak to arrest a suspected drug kingpin. However, the suspect managed to escape,” the police clarified.
The statement further noted that as the police team was returning, it came under attack from a mob. The situation was defused peacefully after dialogue with local leaders, with the assistance of Assam Rifles and other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), ensuring the safe return of the team.
