IMPHAL: Kuki National Liberation Front (KNLF) general secretary Lalmoi Haokip was killed in an attack by unidentified assailants in the hill district of Churachandpur in Manipur, the police said today.
The killing occurred ahead of the proposed dialogue with Kuki militant groups this month.
The assailants attacked Haokip using hand grenades and firearms around 8 pm yesterday and he died on the spot, a senior police officer said.
As Lalmoi's wife rushed to her husband's help, she sustained splinter injuries and was taken to hospital. She is now “out of danger”, the police officer said.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh had on July 27 said both the state and the Centre will initiate dialogue to bring a settlement concerning Kuki militant groups.
The KNLF is a part of the Kuki militant groups, which is observing Suspension of Operations (SoO), with both the Centre and the state government.
Currently, more than 20 Kuki militant outfits are observing SoO under the conglomeration of two umbrella bodies categorized into the the United Peoples’ Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO).