KIA/KIO taking civilians as human shields, Manipur police fears

Imphal: Manipur police fear that active freedom-fighters of the banned Kuki Independent Army/Kuki Independent Organization (KIA/KIO) use civilians as human shields during encounters to discredit security forces.

KIA/KIO freedom-fighters forced five civilians to go with them during an exchange of fire with the joint security forces of Manipur Police.
Three out of five persons have been rescued from the clutches of ruthless militants.

Of the two rescued villagers, one named Lhunkhhopao Haokip, 38 years old from Kolching village, was shot in his left knee and was shifted to Churachandpur District Hospital.
Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh said in his Twitter post on Monday, “He (Lhankhopao Hokip) along with five others are said to have been forced by KIA freedom-fighters to accompany him. Three of the said persons are with us. ”
The police said counter-insurgency operations are being intensified in Churachandpur district and suspected hideouts along the Myanmar border to recover the abducted villagers at gunpoint.
As a follow-up to the April 8 looting of arms and ammunition caches from the Chongkhojou suspension of operation camp, an operation was launched on April 16 by a special police team from Churachandpur district under the supervision of the Additional Superintendent of Police. . Operations) Deshorjit Singh, Manipur Police Service and overall supervision of SP-CCP Shivanand Survey, IPS.
Another exchange of gunfire took place around 2.30 pm on Sunday at a hideout near Songphu village, 20 km north of Henglep sub-divisional headquarters in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, bordering Myanmar, police said here on Monday.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the operation yielded good results.

After the encounters in and around the said village, a search operation was launched and the following arms and ammunition were recovered, CM N Biren Singh who also holds the home portfolio said on his Twitter.
The following items were recovered during the search of the scene after the incident:

1) Ladies Carbine with Magazine – 01

2) Single Barrel (SBBL) – 04 were exported.

3) AK 56 rifle with magazine each- 02

4) Camouflage Bag – 03

5) Chinese Hand Grenade – 02

6) Lethode Live Round – 01

7) Pistol – 03

8) AK 56 Ammunition – 76

9) Single barrel ammo – 22 and 3 empty cases and

10) 9 mm round – 04