Manipur: Kuki outfit leader, bodyguard shot dead in Kangpokpi

Imphal: Janggin alias Jetlee Baite, 40, the self-styled chief of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) was shot dead along with his bodyguard by unknown people at his residence in Saikul under Kangpokpi district.

According to sources, the incident occurred at around 10:30 pm on Thursday when some unknown people attacked the KRA army chief at his residence at Lhungtin village and shot him and his bodyguard dead.

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The Kuki Revolutionary Army is part of the tripartite talks with the Centre and state government under the umbrella of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO).

The bodies of the leader and his bodyguard have been handed over to medical authorities for post-mortem.

Sources informed that locals woke up to the indiscriminate firing sound that echoed in the entire area at around 10:30 pm which continued till midnight. However, nobody could ascertain the exact cause of the firing in the middle of the night, it said.

The body of the two deceased was discovered only after the Saikul police and the 38 Assam Rifles Saikul Post along with Saikul CSOs rushed to the spot to take stock of the incident.

So far, no individual or organisations have claimed responsibility for the incident. Also, the Kuki outfit is yet to issue any official statement or comment on the incident.
However, a case has been registered at Saikul Police station in connection with the incident, said sources.

Lhungtin is the sub-division headquarters of Lhungtin sub in Kangpokpi district located around 14 km from Saikul hill town and approximately 25 km from Kangpokpi district headquarters.

The designated camp of the KRA is situated few kilometres from Lhungtin village.