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Manipur insurgency : Army upset with rebel leader’s arrest |
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The Army in Manipur is “not happy” with the arrest of a top leader of the Kuki National Army (KNA) as it feels that it would derail the peace process with Kuki militant groups in the state.
Seikhojang Haokip alias Robert, the Army Chief of KNA, was arrested by Manipur police from Imphal airport on July 14, shortly before he was to board a Delhi-bound flight.
The KNA is one of several Kuki militant groups in Manipur that entered into a suspension of operations agreement with the Army in August 2005 to pave the way for holding peace talks.
Other Kuki militant groups that accepted the suspension of operations agreement are the Kuki Revolutionary Army, Kuki National Front (Military Council), Kuki National Front (Zougam), Kuki National Front (President), United Kuki Liberation Front and Kuki Liberation Army. The truce will expire on July 31.
The arrest has come at a time when Defence Ministry officials and top Army officers, both in Manipur and Delhi, are trying to extend the arrangement.
The Manipur government has been refusing to buy the arrangement made between the army and the Kuki militant groups, maintaining that there is no ground rule for the suspension of operations.
While announcing the arrest on Saturday, the police said Robert was arrested because the state government does not recognise the suspension of operations. The rebel leader is now in police custody.
The KNA army chief was reportedly headed for Delhi to meet Defence Ministry officials to hold talks about furthering the suspension of operations.
“The Ibobi Singh cabinet discussed the Centre’s proposal for framing ground rules earlier this month and Chief Minister Ibobi Singh agreed to accept the suspension of operations in principle. The state government is also working on setting up designated camps. Given this backdrop, the arrest defied logic,” sources said.
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