Gun Attack on Oil tankers on NH 37 claims by Kuki liberation outfit

Imphal: The United Kuki National Army (UKNA) on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the attack on oil and gas tankers on NH-37 connecting Imphal-Silchar amid strong condemnation from the Manipur Chief Minister and various quarters.
In a statement, the UKNA Defense Minister claimed responsibility for the gun attacks on vehicles plying on NH-37 and said it was the first offensive against the supply of essential commodities and other weapons to help the Mete community.
UKNA has expressed regret over the injury to the driver during the operation and further, it has been warned that there should be no transport of goods vehicles on NH-37 going to Imphal immediately.
The offensive has been launched by the organization in view of the acute humanitarian crisis faced by the state government in the last 11 months and to prevent illegal transportation of deadly bombs and other weapons to attack the Kuki people.
It added that the operation is a continuous process and any transporter who ignores these orders will be treated as an enemy of the Kukis and will face the consequences of disobedience for which he will be personally responsible.
Meanwhile, responding to a poser raised by journalists at a function in Imphal, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh revealed that operations have been launched to nab the Kuki militants responsible for the attacks on NH-37. He also strongly condemned the activities of the militants.

Notably, a convoy of goods carriers including fuel tankers, escorted by security personnel, was moving toward Imphal when Kuki militants attacked them with a volley of fire at around 10.30 am in between Tollen Kuki village and Kaimai village under Tousem sub-division, Tamenglong district. One driver sustained bullet injuries and four trucks caused damages.

Several voluntary organisations including Manipur Drivers’ Association (MDA), Youth’s Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR), Joint Tribes Students’ Association (JTSA) of All Inpui Students’ Union (AISU), Zeme Students’ Organisation, Manipur (ZSOM), Rongmei Naga Students’ Organisation, Manipur (RNSOM), and Liangmai Naga Kati-mai Ruangdi, Manipur (LNKR-M) among others have condemned in the strongest terms the armed attack on trucks.