Combined security forces apprehended seven active cadres of the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) in possession with arms and ammunition during search operations conducted at border hill areas of Moreh on Saturday.
The armed miscreants trained under the command of one Lalet Kuki commander and Haokin commander UKLF were apprehended during search operations conducted by a combined team of special commando unit, Moreh CDO, 5 IRB, Thoubal CDO, Kakching CDO, 5th Assam Rifles at Ziong Veng, Yangoupokpi, Seljang and Mongjang Village from 6 am till 12.30 pm.
The apprehended cadres are Netingam Lupho, 55, son of Jamkhothang Lupho, Yangoupokpi, village Moreh; Jangkhohao Lupho, 45, son of Lunkhopao Lupho of Yangoupoki Village, Moreh; George Holkhosat Khongsai, 20, son of Jacob Ngamjathang Khongsai of Joldan Village (Munno veng, Ward No VII); Letgoulen Doungel, 25, son of Lelthang Doungel of Zion veng (near hospital); Jangkhohao Haokip, 34, son of L Jamkithang Haokip of Zion Veng (near hospital); Nengimao son of Mangthang of Namphalong, Myanmar and Jangkhomang Baite, 21, son of Holkhozam Baite of Muannom Veng, Moreh.
The seized items are gun powder about (10 gm), one chinese-made hand grenade, suspected sulphur powder about (60 gm), four mobile phones, one camouflage jacket and cap, one money purse, four identity cards and Aadhaar cards, gun cartridge 102 numbers of round, suspected materials of Ammonium nitrate (about 2525 gms), one ammunition belt and one Kenbo bike without registration number.
Meanwhile, IGAR South inspector general Rajan Sherawat on Saturday clarified that there were no incidents of looting properties and harassing women and children during the search operations carried out at Moreh by security forces.
The IG, Assam Rifles, Mantripukhri in his clarification called out the Kuki Women Union Tengnoupal and Moreh CSO leaders, stating they should not raise such allegations with wrong statements and also added that operations will continue in Moreh.
The IG reached Moreh on Saturday morning at around 8am on an Indian Army helicopter. He inspected the security arrangements in Moreh as soon as he landed in Moreh.
Rajan Sherawat along with DC Tengnoupal and SP Tengnoupal also had a meeting with Kuki Women Union leaders at Assam Rifles Inspection Bunglow on Saturday afternoon.
During the meeting, he mentioned that the operations conducted at Moreh are carried out by combined teams of State forces, Central forces and not by the state force alone.
There was no proof of properties being looted and women, children being harassed by the security forces during the operations, he added. He strongly urged them to stop falsely alleging the security forces.
He also warned of dispersing the Kuki women who have been sitting in front of Assam Rifle camps as per district magistrate orders, if they fail to return back to their respective homes by Saturday night. Search operations in Moreh will continue till the miscreants involved in the killing of SDPO Anand are arrested, said the IG.