Manipur: Camp of SoO groups raided by KIA rebels in Churachandpur; armoury looted, probe underway

In a sensational incident, a camp sheltering cadres of 3 rebel groups namely the UTLA, KNF-Z and USRA was reportedly raided by cadres of the Kuki Independent Army last evening in Churachandpur district. As per inputs, the KIA group of approximately 15 rebels led by Self-styled Commander-in-Chief Thangkhongam Haokip alias Davidson raided the SoO (Suspension of Operations)
camp known as the Horeb Camp at Chongkhozou under Henglep sub-division by overpowering the guards on duty.
Soon after this the KIA rebels broke open the armoury and decamped with a huge cache of arms and ammunition. The following items were looted from the armoury-
A) UTLA looted:
1) SLR – 1, Rounds – 2
2) 7.62 mm Pistol – 1, Mag-1, Round – 1
3) 0.32 Pistol – 2, Mag – 1, Round – 2
4) 9 mm Pistol – 1, Round – 1
5) 0.65 Pistol – 1, Round – 1
6) 9 mm Country made Pistol – 1, Round – 1
7) AK 47 – 1, Rounds – 101
8) Lethode Bomb – 2

B) KNF – Z looted:
1) AK 56 – 3, Mag – 2, Rounds – 37
2) M 16 Magazine – 2, Rounds – 420
3) Ladies Carbine Rounds – 14
4) Carbine Magazine – 1
5) 0.303 Rifle – 1
6) 7.62 Pistol – 1, Mag – 1, Rounds – 4
C) USRA looted:
1) Carbine Magazine – 2, Rounds – 32
2) SBBL Rounds – 12
3) 7.62 mm Rounds – 126
4) Telescopic Sight – 1
D) Camp Protection
1) SLR – 1, Mag – 1
2) 7.62 mm Pistol – 1, Mag – 1, Rounds – 3

Inputs suggested that the KIA rebels left one of their own country made single barrel defective SBBL gun (Seized Now) but took all the mobile phones of the 4 persons present for camp security.

For a long time the guards at the camp could not free themselves, but somehow one of them managed to untie himself and then helped the others. Soon after recieving reports of the incident, a team of Churachandpur Police led by the SP as well as 2 teams of C-company 36 Assam Rifles reached the spot and launched an operation against the KIA rebels.

Further probe into the matter is underway.

It may be mentioned that the Self-styled KIA chief Thangkhongam Haokip alias Davidson @ Pareng Kom carries a bounty of Rs 50000 and is wanted in at least 9 cases registered with the Churachandpur police for his involvement in frequent kidnapping for ransom, extortion as well as bombing cases.