IMPHAL, Nov 5: Four armed members of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA), a non-Suspension of Operation (SoO) Kuki insurgent group, were killed in an early-morning encounter with security forces in Khanpi village, about 80 km west of Churachandpur, on Tuesday.
According to the Assam Rifles, the gunfight erupted when militants opened unprovoked fire on an Army team conducting a search operation in the area. Security forces retaliated, killing four cadres on the spot. The joint operation, carried out by the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, continued throughout the day with combing operations in nearby forested zones.
Officials said the action followed recent violent incidents allegedly involving UKNA members, including the killing of a village chief, issuing threats to residents, and attempts to destabilize the region. “The successful neutralisation of these terrorists underscores the commitment of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles to safeguard civilians and restore peace in Manipur,” an official statement said.
Meanwhile, the encounter has sparked strong reactions from several Kuki civil society groups, including the Kuki Inpi Churachandpur, Kuki Chiefs Association, Kuki Women’s Union, and Kuki Students’ Organisation. In a joint statement, the groups condemned the killings, describing them as “tragic,” and urged both the security forces and armed groups to exercise restraint to avoid further escalation.
As a mark of mourning, the organisations announced a district-wide shutdown in Churachandpur on the day of the funeral. Reiterating their long-standing demand for a political resolution, the Kuki bodies called on the government to initiate dialogue and consider a separate administrative arrangement for the Kuki–Zo inhabited areas.
