Kuki Liberation Army

Formation

The Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) was formed under the leadership of Paozangam Letkholun sometime in 1992. He was shot dead by the security forces in an encounter at Chaningpokpi village in the Imphal East district on June 4, 2003.

Objective

The Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) claims to be fighting for an independent Kukiland or a separate Kuki state.

Leadership and Cadre

KLA’s history has been sewn with several instances of inter and intra group rivalry precipitating several changes in its leadership.

The group was headed by Paozangam Letkholun Khongsai till his killing on June 4, 2003, by a cadre of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA).

‘Publicity secretary’ Mosaun Kuki killed the group’s ‘deputy commander’ Thunder Kuki, his wife and his deputy, identified as Kingson, in the Thoubal district on the night of July 24, 2007, and took over the leadership of the outfit. Mosaun Kuki reportedly claimed success in his revolt against Thunder’s leadership of the KLA and also declared its headquarters at the same location as under the leadership of Thunder. Earlier, on May 29, 2007, Thunder Kuki, who was then deputy chief of the outfit, had decamped from the KLA headquarters at Bongjang after killing the then ‘commander-in-chief’, Letkholun Lupheng, along with five others.

On September 25, Sangai Express reported that the 'central cabinet committee' of the KLA has re-organised its armed and administrative wings. According to a statement signed by Armstrong Kuki, the 'information and publicity secretary' of the outfit, Gaulien alias Stephen Kuki is appointed as 'commander-in-chief' and Khaikam alias T.K. Kuki as 'deputy commander-in-chief'. The statement also mentions that J. Jeniffer Haokip is appointed as 'administrative secretary', Simon Singson as 'headquarters public relations officer', Ngambom Kuki as 'chief finance in-charge' of Imphal East and Imphal West districts, Armstrong Gangte as 'secretary information and publicity', Galngam Kuki as 'project officer', T.L. Isaac as 'division-I finance in-charge' of Sadar Hills, Senapati and Ukhrul districts, J. Singson as 'division-II finance in-charge' of Churchandpur, Bishnupur and Tamenglong districts and Helun Brandon as 'division-III finance in-charge' of Chandel, Moreh and Thoubal districts.

On August 28, 2007 the KLA announced the name of its new office bearers. Robinson Kuki was appointed as the headquarters in-charge, Philip Kuki as the finance in-charge (Imphal East), Arjun Kuki as Imphal West district in-charge, Eagle Kuki in charge of Churachandpur Division and Paulneo Kuki in charge of the Kangpokpi area. Addy Kuki is the information and publicity secretary of the outfit.

A June 23, 2007, report in E-Pao quoting the KLA ‘information and publicity secretary’ Malsawm Kuki stated that group has appointed Elwin/Hangsai Kuki as its ‘finance secretary’ and Milan/Jack Meitei as its ‘project officer’.

The group’s cadre strength is not known although reports indicate that it is a relatively small group compared to other Kuki militant groups.

Areas of Operation and Headquarters

KLA operates in parts of the Ukhrul, Senapati and Thoubal districts.

The group has its headquarters at Bongjang in the Saikhul sub-division of Senapati district.

Funding

The KLA’s funding is largely sourced from extortion and collection of 'protection fees' in its areas of operation.

Linkages

The outfit allegedly has close links with the Nagaland-based NSCN-IM.

Incidents involving KLA

2008

August 18: Militants opened fire at the residence of one Nandeibam Inao at Thangmeiband Yumnam Leikai. The KLA claims responsibility for the attack and its ‘publicity secretary’ Armstrong Kuki informs the press that the attack was the last warning for Inao, a fertiliser dealer, to pay the demanded amount.

August 8: The ZRA ‘arrests’ two KLA militants, Kamlal alias Kenedy and Paukholet alias Jack, while they were allegedly trying to extort money from villagers of Sangaikot areas. The report adds that the duo demanded INR 5000 each from two villages of Molhoiphai and Bongjang along the Sugnu road and was threatening to burn homes and hearths of the villages if they failed.

July 11: Two suspected KLA militants are shot dead by the Imphal East district police along the Tinsid road.

June 27: Manipur Police rescue a sub-contractor and seven labourers abducted by KLA militants from the construction site of a mobile phone service provider's tower at Torbung in the Bishnupur district. The report adds that the militants had demanded INR 10,00000 from the mobile phone service provider, besides INR 50,000 from the contractor, failing which they threatened to stop work.

June 24 : The police recovered and later defused one locally-made bomb which is suspected to have been planted by the KLA cadres at the residence of a person, Chungpao Kipgen, at Zomi Villa in North AOC of Imphal. Kipgen said the bomb was suspected to be planted by the militants in connection with threats to him on the matter of five percent cuts from the funds meant for distribution to the victims of the Naga-Kuki ethnic violence which was released through the Communal Victims Relief Fund and Resettlement Association. Kipgen is reportedly one of the active members of the association.

June 12 : The KLA militants explode a Chinese hand grenade inside the residence of Deputy Inspector General Arms Police-II L. Khaijamang Haokip at New Lambulane. Furniture and flower pots were damaged in the explosion. A hard shell with the words CF-90 written on it is recovered from the incident site. Khaijamang says that he had received threats from the KLA over monetary demands on February 14, 2008.

May 30: People capture a KLA militant, Anoubam Naocha Sharma, while he was trying to extort money from a school headmaster, identified as Chingtham Priyokumar, at Uripok Baspati in the Imphal West district. He was later handed over to the Manipur Police. Two of his accomplices, however, managed to escape from the incident site. Sharma had served a monetary demand of INR 5 00000 to Priyokumar a month ago in the name of KLA. Meanwhile, another quoting Superintendent of Police of Imphal West district, L. Kailun, mentions that Naocha is a KNA cadre who was arrested by the Police from the extortion site. Naocha reportedly confesses that he joined the KNA six days back through one Ngairakpam Biren Singh and besides Biren operates under one Iboyaima Singh.

May 25: Four KLA militants, identified as Kamlen Dimngel, Mangkholal Doungel, Laljang Khongsai and Doukhohel Touthang, and one KRA cadre, Langkholel Chongloi, are killed during an internecine clash at New Saikhul under Saikhul police station in the Senapati district.

May 3: One KRA cadre, Rolex Misao, is shot dead by the KLA militants at Saikul area in the Senapati district.

April 23: Two suspected militants, including one KLA cadre identified as Pechimayum Ajitkumar, are shot dead by Manipur Police at Wakha under Porompat police station in the Imphal East district. One AK series rifle and one 9-mm pistol are reportedly recovered from the possession of the slain militants.

April 21: The 'commander in chief' of the KLA, Timothy Kuki, states in the Sadar Hills area that the outfit would target the six renegades who were involved in the April 19-killing of its 'district commander', Seilinthang alias Eagle, at Khuga Dam area in the Churachandpur district.

April 19: The Imphal West district 'commander' of the KLA, identified as Seilienthang, is shot dead by unidentified militants at the residence of his fiancee, Chingboi, in the Khuga Dam area of Churachandpur district.

April 16: The KLA asks five persons, Seikhohao alias Marvin Kuki, Ngamlet alias Jamdil Kuki, Paokholun Kuki, Arjun Kuki alias Jackson Meitei and Addy Kuki, to 'surrender' before Timothy Kuki, 'commander in-chief' of the outfit, by April 20. They were allegedly extorting money from various departments of the Manipur Government by 'misusing' the name of Marson Kuki, the former 'information and publicity secretary' of the KLA.

February 26: During an incident relating to a drunken brawl, Thangcha Kipgen, 'president' of the KLA, is killed at a hotel room in the Aizawl, capital of Mizoram. The hotel manager said that the KLA leader was fighting with two men in the presence of two women before his death. Kipgen was strangled, police stated. Around 14 cadres of seven Kuki insurgent factions reportedly held a meeting at a tourist lodge in Aizawl on February 24 to discuss unity among various Kuki underground factions. Police, however, said it had no knowledge about the meeting, but did not rule out the hands of a rival Kuki outfit in the killing.

February 24: Ngangbam Manglemjao, Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department, and his wife Shanti, a section officer in the Irrigation and Flood Control ministry, are released. They were earlier abducted by suspected KLA militants from Imphal-Ukhrul road on February 18.

February 22: Five KRA militants, including an old man and four child recruits, are abducted and subsequently killed by suspected militants of the KLA at an unspecified place along the road leading to Thangal Surung from Ekou Bazar under Saikul police station of Senapati district. The slain militants were identified as Hanpau Chongloi, Public Relations Officer of the KRA, Pouginlal Hangsing, Lamgoumang Louvum, Jangmilal Hangsing, and Seigoulen Khongsai. A vehicle hijacked by the slain militants is also set ablaze by the suspected KLA cadres in the incident site.

February 18: Ngnangbam Manglemjao Singh, an executive engineer in the public works department, and his wife Shanti Devi, a section officer in the irrigation and flood control department, are abducted by militants on their way to office. The KLA, which had not made any claim to the abductions, demanded INR 1 crore from the public works department for their release.

2007

December 18: Three suspected KNF cadres belonging to their Presidential faction are killed by the KLA militants during a factional clash at Zoulen village under Saikul police station in the Senapati district. According to a KLA spokesperson, the clash occurred after the KNF militants entered Zoulen village which is within the 'operational area' of the KLA to collect money and paddy from the villagers. He claimed that five KNF cadres were wounded in the clash.

December 10: One KLA militant, Yamkholun Khongsai alias Lencha alias Ratab, is arrested by Manipur Police during a search operation at Hatta in the Imphal East district. Four extortion notes were recovered from Ratab, who belongs to Saichan village in the Senapati district.

December 5: Manipur Police rescued the driver and conductor of a truck, Nongthombam Nanao and Nongthombam Robin, following an encounter with suspected KLA militants at Itham Moirang Purel in the Thoubal district. According to police sources, the truck loaded with tyres and GI sheets was hijacked by unidentified militants from the Mantripukhri area on December 2.

December 2: One KLA cadre, identified as Thangjalen Singsit alias Lelen alias Boilen alias Jamkholet from Molenphai of Churachandpur district, is arrested during another search operation at New Checkon in the Imphal East district. November 29: One KLA cadre, Alwin alias Lungpu, is killed by suspected KNF militants during a factional clash at Bongbal village in the Churachandpur district.

November 22: One hand grenade was placed at the residence of a contractor, Ngangbam Meghachandra, by some unidentified militants at Chingamathak Nameirakpam Leikai under Singjamei police station in the Imphal East district. The grenade was later defused by Manipur Police personnel. According to police sources, the KLA had served an extortion note to Megachandra on November 9.

October 18: Over 300 villagers from Saichang village under Lamlai police station in the Imphal East district are camping at nearby Itham Moirangpurel village following the clash between the KLA and Prithvi faction of the KNF at Saichang and Bongyang villages.

October 17: Manipur Police stated that one KLA militant was killed and two others wounded in a clash with militants belonging to the Prithvi faction of the KNF at Bongyang village under Saikul police station in the Senapati district. Meanwhile, the 'president' of the Prithvi faction of the KNF denied the involvement of the group's cadres in the clash. Another report mentioned that the clash was a factional fight between the KLA militants. The report added that one AK rifle, one SLR, one M-16 and one US Carbine were taken away from the KLA cadres by the other group.

September 27: Two KRA militants are killed and three others injured in a gun battle with the KLA cadres at Khupibung village under Saikul police station in the Senapati district. Approximately 45 KLA militants were 'patrolling' at Khupibung when around 25 KRA cadres opened fire towards them. Immediately, the KLA cadres cordoned off the area and retaliated.

September 25: A statement signed by Armstrong Kuki, the 'information and publicity secretary' of the KLA, stated that the public in Manipur should not be confused with the activities of other armed groups operating in the name of KLA from North Cachar Hills in Assam. The KLA from Assam was asked to refrain from creating any misunderstanding between the various tribes in Manipur.

September 8: Five NSCN-IM militants are shot dead by suspected KLA cadres at an unspecified place between Jotsoma and Khonoma in the Kohima district of Nagaland. The victims, identified as P.K Stone, a priest at the NSCN-IM's headquarters at Camp Hebron, his wife Mairela, Nganshamkhui, Easternlite and Ahenmi, hailed from Ukhrul district in Manipur. Several spent cases of M-20 assault rifles and 9-mm pistols are recovered from the incident site. The KLA militants reportedly took revenge for the September 3-killing of their 12 cadres by the NSCN-IM militants at a forest near Tangkhul Hundung Khunou under Litan police station in the Ukhrul district.

September 3: At least 12 KLA militants are killed by the NSCN-IM at a forest near Tangkhul Hundung Khunou under Litan police station in the Ukhrul district. KLA cadres had earlier hijacked two passenger vehicles from the Maphou dam area. Weapons belonging to the slain KLA cadres were reportedly taken away by the NSCN-IM militants. The clash ensued following the KLA militants' violation of an understanding among the outfits not to intrude into each others' area of operation without prior information.

July 25: The number of casualties in the factional clash involving KLA militants on July 24-night between Bongbal and Rongyang in the Thoubal district has increased to 10 with the death of four more unidentified KLA cadres.

July 24: At least six militants of the KLA, including a top leader, identified as Thunder Kuki, his wife and his deputy, identified as Kingson, are killed in a factional clash between Bongbal and Rongyang under Yairipok police station in the Thoubal district. The killing was reportedly executed by Mosaun Kuki, the publicity secretary.

June 28: Security forces (SFs) arrested three suspected KLA militants, including a woman cadre identified as Shingboi Kuki, and two others, Lemkholan Shingson and K. Paulun Kom, while they were en route to serve a monetary demand of INR 15 lakhs to Power Minister Phungjathang at Chassad Avenue in the Imphal East district. SFs also sized one M-16 rifle having three live rounds and an M-79 grenade launcher lethod gun from their vehicle.

June 10: The KLA reportedly expelled five of its cadres, identified as Jangthang Touthang alias Kingson, Kingpin Kamlal Touthang alias Kennedy, Jangminthang Touthang alias Franklin, Mangtinlen Khongsai alias Anthony and Khaingam Haokip alias Rash Monglham.

June 3: Police personnel arrested two KLA cadres, identified as ‘corporal’ Namsang and ‘Sgt. Major’ Alex Khoute, at Maokot Chepu in the Ukhrul district. They also recovered seven Improvised Explosive Devices, one 9-mm pistol with a magazine and two live rounds, five rounds of AK-47, one detonator, one grenade, a two-inch mortar ammunition and anti-tank Rocket-Propelled Grenade ammunition and two extortion notes from their possession.

May 29: The ‘deputy commander’ of the KLA, identified as Thunder, defected with around 50 weapons after killing Letkholun Lupheng, ‘chief commander’ of the outfit, and at least five others at Bongjang area in the Saikhul sub-division of Senapati district. The clash occurred as a group of KLA militants led by Thunder revolted against the leadership of Letkholun at the KLA camp in Bongjang village.

March 9: Police arrested a KLA cadre, Komkhothang Kipgen alias Jeill, from an unspecified place in the Churachandpur district. However, two of his associates managed to escape from the incident site.

January 8: The KLA, in-protest against the State Government’s alleged refusal to endorse the agreement suspending operations between various Kuki militant groups and the army in 2006, announced that it would not allow election campaign and other poll-related activities from the ruling Indian National Congress legislators in areas under its control.

2006

March 29: The KLA threatened the wife of a Kuki Church priest, Dr T Lunkim, to withdraw the statement made by her family members and well-wishers criticizing the outfit, which had abducted her husband on February 7. He was subsequently released on March 18.

March 18: Kuki church priest and human right activist, Dr. T. Lunkim, is released by the KLA after he is made to beg apology before media persons for his ‘anti-organisation activities’ and promise ‘not to indulge in them anymore in future’. Lunkim was abducted on January 17.

March 1: The KRA has appealed to the KLA for release of the church priest T. Lunkim on 'grounds of humanity' at Tamenglong district.

February 18: The KLA ‘imposed a fine’ on the human rights activist and church leader, T. Lunkim, who was abducted earlier by the outfit from the Thoubal district. Meanwhile, Lunkim’s wife reportedly accused the outfit of distorting its statement regarding the reason of abduction.

February 7: Cadres of the KLA allegedly abducted the Chairman of Kuki Movement for Human Rights, Dr. T. Lunkim, from the Imphal West district.

2005

December 20: A SF personnel was killed while two others are injured in an exchange of fire with KLA cadres at Cheijang Bongyang Kuki village under Yairipok police station. The security forces also arrested a KLA woman activist and recovered a laptop, generator, printer, type writer and fax machine from her possession.

November 10: Eight militants, including six of the KLA and two cadres of the City Meitei faction of the KCP, surrendered to the Assam Rifles authorities at Tengnoupal. The KLA militants were identified as S Thangkhogin Mate who surrendered along with one Chinese-make navy gun, Sonminlein Mate with one Chinese-make Rifle, L. S. Thenkolal Mate along with one US-make carbine, M. Lungangam Haokip with one sten carbine, John Kamminthang with one 9 mm pistol and H Thangkho Mate, who surrendered with one M-16 rifle.

July 29: Suspected KLA cadres hurled a hand grenade at the residence of Additional Chief Engineer of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department in Imphal city. Another grenade is lobbed at a transport agency office in the Thangmeibandh area. While neither of them exploded, the outfit later claimed responsibility for the second attack. The KLA ‘information secretary’ Steward said that the attack was carried out for the alleged failure of the authorities to meet the demand of the outfit.

June 9: Two KLA cadres, Jamkhohao Haokip and Sagolsem Binodkumar Singh, are arrested from the CADA office gate area in Imphal West district. Police sources said that both had served an extortion note of Rs 50,000 on local officials and private transporters.

2004

November 10: One person is injured when KLA militants fired to disperse a group of about 30 people at an unspecified place in Manipur, who had marched towards their camp to rescue three government officials held hostages by it since November 8. The outfit had demanded Rupees 50 lakhs for their safe release.

June 24: At least two suspected KLA militants were killed during an encounter with the Manipur Police commandos at New Lambulane area in the Imphal East district. Two hand grenades along with a demand letter signed by the ‘commander, KLA division no. 5', were recovered from the incident site. Imphal West district Superintendent of Police, S Ibocha, said that during the last few days, a number of KLA cadres had gathered in the New Lambulane and KR Lane areas for the purpose of carrying out extortion in the Greater Imphal area.

June 4: Paozangam Lupheng, chief of the armed wing of KLA, is killed at Chaningpokpi area in Thoubal district by the police of Imphal East district.

Police arrested another cadre of the KLA and recovered an AK-47 magazine with five live rounds, an equal number of spent cartridges and utensils from his possession.

April 25: Police arrested four KLA militants during separate raids at the Kamu and Koireng villages in Thoubal district. One of them, Letkhohao Misao is suspected to be involved in several abductions, including that of a German national Heinrich Wolfgang, who was released on April 9 after 18-days in captivity and also of Telecom Deputy General Manager T Lumkim, who was abducted and subsequently released in February 2003. The three others arrested were identified as Jenmai Vaiphei, Thiyanminboi Vaiphei and Vehma Vaiphei.

March 29: The KLA warned that any attempt to rescue Henrich Wolfgang, the abducted German activist of a foreign non-governmental organization, on the part of the security forces, would risk his life. Talking to media persons, a KLA representative said the outfit has abducted Wolfgang to make him aware of the irregularities and imbalance in the utilization of funds by some German-funded NGOs such as the Village Volunteer Development and Green Cross operating in the region.

March 23: Henrich Wolfgang, a German activist of a foreign non-governmental organization, is abducted at gunpoint by suspected KLA cadres near Moirangpurel Phura Makhong, under Lamlai police post-limits. Police said Wolfgang had arrived in Imphal on March 21 from Germany along with other team member to investigate the utilisation of the funding made by the NGO to various local NGOs.

February 23: The KLA has reportedly released Bharat Sanchar Nagar Limited (Manipur branch) Deputy General Manager J Lumkim in a jungle near Molnom in the Thoubal district. However, official sources did not reveal if Rs 30 lakh demanded as ransom was paid to the outfit.

February 18: Bharat Sanchar Nagar Limited (Manipur branch) Deputy General Manager J Lumkim Lumkim was abducted by the KLA from the Molnom area of Thoubal district.

2003

June 4: Paozangam Letkholun, the KLA chief, was shot dead by the security forces in an encounter at Chaningpokpi village under Lamlai police post limits in the Imphal East district.

2002

December 27: The Assam Rifles said that that the NSCN-IM is still recruiting cadres and carrying out extortion in Ukhrul district. Quoting Assam Rifles Commander Brig V Suresh Nair, media reports added that the outfit has been operating with KLA and KRA terrorist outfits in the area.

December 11: The abducted son of former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing is released by the KLA.

December 9: The youngest son of Rishang Keishing, former Chief Minister of Manipur, was abducted by the KLA.

August 16: A self-styled ‘captain’ of the KLA, Paokhotang Khongsai, is arrested by Imphal East district police, from the Lamlong Bazar area. A sten gun, a country-made carbine and some ammunition are recovered from his possession.

August 4: Security force personnel overran a camp of the KLA in Hanganglok, located between Saichang village and Songphen Nepali Basti. However, all the 15 inmates of the camp fired at the security force personnel and managed to escape.

July 29: The KLA burnt down several buildings of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department in Nongpok Keithelmanbi, approximately 15kms north of the Yairipok police station.

2001

November 27: Security force personnel arrested two KLA cadres belonging to the Molnoi village and Ithang village. Some arms and ammunition are also recovered from them