Kuki National Army

Formation

The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and its armed Wing, Kuki National Army (KNA), were formed in 1988. The first batch of the cadres, under the command of Thangkholun Haokip, was trained by the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) in Myanmar.

Objectives

The main objectives of the KNA is to bring together all the Kuki-inhabited areas separated by artificial boundary created in 1935, specifically in the Kabaw valley of Myanmar and the Kuki inhabited areas in the hill districts of Manipur under one administrative unit called ‘Zalengam’ (Land of freedom). In case of the eventuality of such integration not materializing, the KNA aims at the creation of two Kuki states: one within Burma i.e. ‘Eastern Zalengam’ and the other within India, ‘Western Zalengam’.

The KNA’s relationship with other Kuki and Zomi militant outfits, however, remained hostile. On December 29, 2005, three Kuki militant outfits, the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) and the Kuki National Front-Samuel (KNF-S), merged under the banner of the Kuki National Council (KNC) to carry out operations against the KNA. A decision to this effect was announced by the ‘commanding officer’ of the KRA, Maj Max, at Sadar Hills area in Manipur.

In Myanmar, the Kuki National Army waged guerrilla warfare against the Military Junta between 1991 and 1999, mainly targeting patrol parties and also Steamers along the Chindwin River.

Leadership

P. S. Haokip is the ‘president’ of the KNO and ‘supreme commander’ of the KNA. Anton Kuki is the ‘Home Secretary’. The other senior members are Khaikholun, vice-president for Eastern Zalen-gam, Lalminthang Vaiphei, vice-president for Western Zalengam, S. N. G. Haokip, Public Relations Secretary, Amitabh T. S. Haokip, Defence Secretary, Zalen Kuki, Foreign Secretary, Joshua Haokip, Education and Development Secretary, T. H. German Haokip, Intelligence and Analysis Secretary, Benjamin Paite, Trade and Commerce Secretary, Kamkhenpao Zou, Art and Culture Secretary, Thangboi Karong, Forest and Environment Secretary and Thangsang Hmar, Medical Secretary.

The KNA has an estimated strength of 600 cadres armed with an array of weapons like AK-Series, G-series, M-series and 60mm mortar.

Areas of Operation

KNO/KNA operates in the hill districts of Manipur and adjoining areas in Assam. It also has marginal presence in the Kabaw valley in the Northwest of Myanmar.

Finances

The KNA primarily depends on extortion for financing its activities.

Linkages

The KNO/KNA maintains strategic linkages with the Kachin Independent Organisation/ Kachin Independent Army, the Democratic Alliance of Burma, an alliance of pro-democracy exile organizations and ethnic insurgent organizations in Myanmar and the Federation of Ethnic Nationalities of Burma. It is also known to have close working relationship with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K). Earlier, it maintained links with outfits such as the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and Assam-based United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). However, such linkages have weakened over the years. KNA is also an affiliate of the Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front, an umbrella organization of several militant outfits, including the ULFA, UNLF and the NSCN-K.

Negotiations

KNA has avoided confrontation with the security forces and have made appeals and sent petitions to the Union Government and other high-level officials in New Delhi for fulfilling their objectives. Memoranda submitted to the Government of India since 1995 include:

1. October 2, 1995: Memorandum to P. V. Narasimha Rao, Prime Minister.

2. October 4, 1995: Memorandum to A. B. Vajpayee, Leader of the Opposition.

3. June 17, 1996: Memorandum to H. D. Deve Gowda, Prime Minister.

4. January 27, 1997: Memorandum to K. R. Narayanan, President of India.

5. July 30, 2004: Memorandum to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister.

On September 22, 2005, the Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee informed in the Manipur capital Imphal that at least eight militant outfits (including the KNA) in Manipur have declared informal ceasefires' with the Union Government. However, on January 31, 2006, the agreement expired.

Incidents

2008

July 2: The Jawahar Navodaya School at Umathel in the Thoubal district has decided to close down, due to the monetary demands made by the KNA, NNC and other militant outfits.

July 1: The Zou Defence Volunteers (ZDV) outfit declares that it will no more operate under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO).

June 20 : At least 500 villagers of Waakan area of Sadar Hills under Saikul police station in the Senapati district have fled from their respective homes and are taking shelter near Purum Likli and Champhai villages since June 16, after nearly 200 cadres of KRA and KNA took up positions for a gun-battle in the area.

June 12 : Three KNA cadres are killed during a factional clash with the KRA at Molkon village under Saikul police station in the Senapati district. An India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel, Paokholun Lhungdim, is reported to have been killed in the crossfire. .

June 9: Two KNA cadres and one KRA cadre are killed during a factional clash between two outfits at Molkon village under Saikul police station in the Senapati district. One KRA cadre also sustains injuries in the clash.

June 8: Suspected KNA militants assault four fishermen along the boundary of Chandel and Churachandpur districts. The militants accuse them of being police informers.

June 2: The United Committee Manipur in a memorandum submits to Manipur Governor Dr. S.S. Sidhu blamed the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement signed with the Kuki militant outfits for the rising crime and unchecked violence in some parts of the State. The civil society group says that due to the improper implementation of the truce details there were unrestricted and open extortions being carried out along with abductions for ransom which had become routine. It adds that the Imphal-Moreh Sumo service was suspended due to monetary demands imposed by the KNA on the transporters.

May 31: Some villagers are assaulted by suspected cadres of the KNA and Military Council faction of the KNF, when they requested the militants not to take a percentage from their wages for works done under the National Rural Employment Generation Scheme (NREGS) at Tuibuong in the Churachandpur district. Five persons sustain injuries in the incident.

May 30: People capture one 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 11: Two persons, including a civilian and a suspected KNA militant, were killed when they were caught in a clash between two suspected Kuki groups, the USRA and Prithvi faction of the KNF, at Nangbram Nganukhong village under Yairipok police station in the Thoubal district. One AK rifle magazine along with 15 live rounds was recovered from the incident site. While the slain civilian is identified as Mayengbam Tomba, the slain KNA cadre is identified as Malsaun Vaiphei. According to another source, Malsaun is a cadre of the USRA.

March 26: One KNA cadre, Alal Kuki, is killed in a gun-battle with the NSCN-IM militants at Chassad in the Ukhrul district.

January 13: The UKLF claims responsibility for the killing of one Tongkhohao alias Haopu Haokip of Sinam village in the Chandel district. The outfit's 'information and publicity secretary' T.H. James Bond accused Haopu and his accomplice, Lunminthang Haokip, of assaulting a UKLF cadre at Pallel without any provocation on January 9. Haopu is a KNA defector.

2007

December 29: One civilian is wounded in an encounter between police personnel and KNA militants at the Thamnapokpi Sumilok hill range of Imphal East district.

December 18: Three KNA militants, 'l/cpl' Lanmilien alias Timothy Haokip, 'pvt' Haokholet alias Albert Lhungdim and Henry alias Khailen, defect to the UKLF along with one AK 56 rifle with two magazines loaded with 150 rounds, one US Carbine with two magazines containing 150 rounds, a lathode propeller (80 mm) and 10 bombs, one M-21 rifle with 100 live rounds, one walkie-talkie set. This was reportedly the second case of defection from the KNA to the UKLF in 2007.

December 10: One KNA militant, Paokhojang Khongsai alias Thangboy Khongsai, is arrested from Hatta in the Imphal East district. Thangboy hails from Monjang village in the Senapati district. Following his confession, another KNA cadre, Chungthang Haokip alias C.T. alias Thangboi, is arrested along with an extortion note from his rented accommodation at the Chassad Avenue.

October 28: The dead body of a person, Thongkholun Haokip, is recovered from Imphal river near Thumbuthong bridge at Nahabam in the Imphal East district. Thongkholun Haokip and Tongthang Haokip were reportedly shot dead by Manipur Police personnel during a counter-insurgency operation at Mahabali Kabui Khul in the same district on October 24. According to police sources, they are KNA linkmen and are involved in extraction of ransom from employees of the public health engineering department. Meanwhile, the Kuki Students Organisation says that the duo, belonging to the Churachandpur district, were Manipur Rifles troopers, and were working as security guards at the residence of C. Doungel, the former State Legislator.

October 25: One KNA cadre, Lalboi, is killed by KRA militants during a factional clash at Khamenlok under Saikul police station in the Senapati district.

October 24: One person, identified as Tongthang Haokip, is shot dead by Manipur Police during a counter-insurgency operation at Mahaballi Kabui village under Porompat police station in the Imphal East district. According to police sources, Haokip was killed while coming to collect ransom from employees of the state public health engineering department on behalf of the KNA.

October 5: One KNA militant, Thonglan Touthang, is arrested by security force personnel during a search operation at Sanjenthong in the Imphal East district.

September 13: A KNA cadre, Thangzang Haokip, is arrested from New Lambulance in the Senapati disitrct.

July 15: Two labourers, identified as Yumnam Ibungo and Keisham Inaobi, are assaulted by unidentified KNA cadres at Samusong village in the Senapati district.

July 14: Police arrested the ‘army chief’ of KNA, Seikhojang Haokip alias Robert, from Imphal airport. He is arrested from the passengers’ lounge of the airport waiting to board a Delhi-bound flight. "We took the KNA leader into custody because the state government does not recognise the outfit’s arrangement with the army. We are interrogating him," Imphal West superintendent of police Clay Khongsai said.

June 8: Police arrested two KNA cadres, Kangjam Chittaranjan alias Taton alias Jack and Arambam Bhagat alias Dudu, at Langol Game Village in the Imphal West district.

May 23: Police personnel arrested two KNA cadres, identified as T.S. Chochon and Paolun alias Helun Haokip, at Hatta Golapati area in the Imphal East district.

April 24: Two suspected KNA cadres, identified as Haokhmang Haokip and Lhunminlan Khongsai, are shot dead by its rival KNF-P at Sapermaina Bazaar in the Senapati district.

March 13: Six militants belonging to the KNA are killed while one sustained injuries in a factional fight with the KNF at Phaijang village in the Senapati district.

February 5: A KNF militant belonging to the President faction, identified as Hengoumang Kipgen was killed and another cadre was injured in an internecine clash at Koubru Leikha under Sapermaina police station in the Senapati district.

February 5: A Kuki National Front (KNF) militant belonging to the President faction was killed and another belonging to the Kuki National Army (KNA) was injured in an internecine clash between two outfits at Koubru Leikha under Sapermaina police station in the Senapati district. The killed KNF militant was identified as Hengoumang Kipgen

2006

December 23: The Kuki National Organisation (KNO), the political wing of Kuki National Army (KNA), asked the UNLF and its armed wing, Manipur People's Army (MPA), to stop operating in Kuki areas, stating their presence and activities have caused serious harm to the Kuki communities.

December 4: A civilian, Hoichong Haokip, is killed in crossfire between security force personnel and the Kuki National Army cadres at Sipiyang village in the Senapati district .Police sources said one M-16 rifle, two magazines, several live rounds, eight number of letter heads, photographs, dresses, magazine pouch and shoulder badges bearing KNA logo were recovered from the incident site.

November 30: The 'public relation officer' of the Samuel faction of the Kuki National Front, 'captain' Namjapao, was shot dead and another cadre, Henjapao, sustained injuries when they were attacked by the rival Kuki National Army cadres at Bijang in the Churachandpur district.

November 21: A civilian, identified as Hatneo, was injured in a crossfire that followed the attack on a camp of the KNA by a rival unidentified outfit at Muolvailup village in the Ukhrul district.

November 9: The Kuki National Army militants reportedly seized seven grams of heroin No. 4 from at least 15 alleged drug traffickers at various places in Tuibuong and Hmar Veng areas of Churachandpur district.

November 7: Suspected KNA militants shot dead a woman, Nemkhohoi alias Hoineu, at Tuibuong Hmarveng area in the Churachandpur district. District police recovered the dead body and also recovered a few grams of heroin from her possession.

October 21: Three suspected KNA cadres are killed in an attack by militants belonging to the KRA at Ekou under Saikul police station in the Senapati district.

September 21: Three ZRA cadres are beaten to death after being abducted by rival cadres of the KNA at Sielmat in the Churachandpur district.

August 2: KNA kills a civilian, R.K. Pratap, at Saparmeina Bazaar in the Senapati district.

2005

September 22: Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee informs in Imphal that at least eight militant outfits (including the KNA) in Manipur have declared informal ceasefires' with the Union Government.

March 6: A KNA cadre is killed at Kanglatombi in the Imphal West district

January 20: KNA cadres abduct Additional Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control Department from Khumanom village in the Churachandpur district.

January 12: A combined team of the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) and Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) militants kill the ‘chief’ of Kuki National Army (KNA), Vipin Haokip, during an internecine clash at Bijang in the Churachandpur district.

January 12: Security force personnel kill a suspected KNA militant, identified as Zangkhopao Kuki, during an encounter between Panshang and Molnom villages in the Ukhrul district.

January 7: KNA cadres kill a student, identified as Tongthang Khongsai, at Molnom Kuki village in the Ukhrul district .

2004

November 16: The Imphal East district police during a search operation arrested a KNA cadre, identified as Hegin Lupho alias Paogin, from Mahabali Kabui village in the Imphal East district.

September 21: Security forces arrest two militants belonging to the Kuki National Front-Military Council (KNF-MC) and the KNA during cordon and search operations at New Checkon in the Imphal East district.

2003

January 20: KNA militant abducts the Additional Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control Department from Khumanom village in the Churachandpur district.

2002

September 1: Manipur Police arrest two KNA militants at Pureilomba in the Imphal East district. They had allegedly come to collect an extortion amount of INR 2.7 lakh from a local businessman.

April 8: The KNA declares a cease-fire with the NSCN-IM.

1997

June 13: Fifteen Myanmar security force personnel and 10 civilians are killed as the KNA ambushes an Army truck at Thenjen village of Myanmar bordering the Chandel district of Manipur.

1994

October 23: Chief of KNA, Hanglen, in a press statement, ‘vows to establish’ a ‘Kuki State’ within Burma (Myanmar).

1993

April 15: KNA militants kill four Naga militants and set ablaze their houses in the Parouland and Kutal Khunthak villages of Chandel district.