Kuki National Front

Formation

Kuki National Front (KNF) was formed under the leadership of Ranco Thangboi Kuki on May 18, 1988 primarily to counter the National Socialist Council of Nagaland- Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) hegemony in the Kuki-inhabited areas.

Objective

The primary objective is to secure a separate State or Union Territory for the Kuki community and the unification of all scattered Kukis in the new homeland, 'Kukiland'.

Leadership

The KNF split in 1995, with one unit identifying itself as the "presidential faction" and the other as the "military council". The former again split into KNF (Samuel faction) and KNF (Zougam faction).

KNF (Presidential faction) remains the most powerful of all the factions and has claimed to be the 'real KNF'. Thangboi Kipgen is the 'President' while L.H. Stephen is the 'Information and Publicity Secretary'. Its 'defense secretary' Hengkhotinmong alias Mangboi Kipgen was killed in an encounter with the Manipur Police at Kangchup in the Imphal West district on December 21, 2005.

The total cadre strength of the outfit (inclusive of all factions) is estimated to be between 400 and 500.

Areas of Operation

KNF operates extensively in the Churachandpur district. It also operates in other Kuki inhibited areas of the Chandel, Tamenglong and Senapati districts.

Source of Funding

The KNF funds its activities primarily through extortion and collection of 'protection fees' from the civilians in its areas of operation. 'Sergeant' Max Kuki reportedly heads its financial-related matters in the Sadar Hills areas of Manipur that comes under Division I, while Division II concerning Moreh and surrounding areas of the Chandel district is under the purview of 'Sergeant' Galngam. Division III covering Imphal and surrounding areas is under the charge of one Romel Kuki.

Linkages with Other Groups

Besides having links with several Kuki militant groups, the outfit maintains close ties with several valley-based outfits like the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and People's Liberation Army (PLA). It is also said to have links with the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K). Unspecified reports state that about 300 KNF recruits had undergone training in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) camps in Myanmar.

Major incidents

2009

• December 22: Two persons are lynched by people at Nongbrang in Thoubal District, when nearly 20 suspected militants belonging to President faction of the KNF attack them, while protesting against threats and intimidation by the outfit. Three women are wounded in the attack.

• December 24: Police said that two persons, who were lynched by people at Nongbrang in Thoubal District on December 22, when nearly 20 suspected militants belonging to President faction of the KNF attacked them, were students belonging to the Kuki community.

• December 22: Two cadres belonging to President faction of the KNF are lynched by people at Nongbrang in Thoubal District, when nearly 20 suspected militants attack them, while protesting against threats and intimidation by the outfit. Three women are wounded in the attack.

• December 3: Three cadres belonging to the Military Council faction of the KNF are shot dead in an ambush carried out by the suspected rival United Tribal Liberation Army outfit between Longpi and Lenglong village under Nungba Police Station in Tamenglong District. The slain cadres are identified as Paotinlam alias Laxman (27), Sothang (27) and Khupmang alias Dony (22).

• November 27: The Commander of 59 Mountain Brigade, Brigadier Anil Chauhan, said at the inaugural function of the administrative block of a designated camp built for the KNF at Saparmeina that the tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact signed between the Union Government, Manipur Government and Kuki militant groups is now in transitory phase and no political dialogue has been initiated as yet.

• November 19: A cadre belonging to the Military Council faction of the KNF, identified as Acaiho Haokip, is shot dead by the Police during an encounter with 15 cadres of the outfit at Panichowki Punji of Cachar District in Assam. A cache of arms, including an AK-47 series rifle with 20 rounds of live cartridges, one SLR gun with 30 rounds of ammunition and a grenade, is recovered from the encounter site.

• November 5-6: The Dimapur District Police and India Reserve Battalion personnel arrested 14 suspected KNF militants in two separate search operations at Dimapur, and rescue one driver abducted earlier. While 10 militants, including one female cadre, were arrested from one hideout, four others were arrested from another place. Police also recovered eight mobile handsets, one 7.65 pistol with five rounds, one .9-mm pistol with eight live rounds and some documents from their possession. Police said the 14 cadres arrested were part of the same gang, which had earlier abducted three drivers belonging to the Manipur branch of the Food Corporation of India. While two drivers were released after they reportedly paid INR.8000 to the abductors, the other driver, identified as Asem Angou (51), a resident of Lambia Challou in Imphal East District, who was kept in confinement due to non-payment of ransom, was rescued by the Police.

• May 15: A press release issued by the Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) of Nungba Zone stated that Nungleiband village was attacked by armed militants of the Military Council (MC) faction of the KNF with sophisticated weapons on May 12 and 13. Around 70 cadres of the faction opened fire indiscriminately at the village forcing the villagers to escape. They broke open the locked doors and either vandalised or looted the belongings of the villagers in addition to slaughtering a number of cows, pigs, dogs and poultry, alleges the ZYF. It also accuses the Army of allowing the KNF-MC cadres in attacking the village, despite the fact that the faction was a signatory of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact.

• May 13: Four militants of the Military Council faction of the KNF and one Assam Rifles personnel are killed during an encounter at Khoupum area of Tamenglong District. An AK-47, one M-16 rifle, one SLR rifle, one .303 rifle and lethode bombs are recovered from the encounter site. The slain Assam Rifles personnel is identified as Havilder T. Kuki.

• March 30: One suspected militant of the Military Council faction of the KNF is killed by the NSCN-IM militants at Tinjang village under Loktak Police Station in Tamenglong District.

• March 17: Troops arrested a cadre of the Prithvi faction of the KNF, identified as ‘captain’ Lalboi, while trying to extort money from locals at Laikot near Motbung in the Senapati District. A weapon, a grenade and extortion notes are recovered from his possession.

• March 10: One militant belonging to the Prithvi faction of the KNF, identified as Gimnleumang alias Ari, is shot dead by the Assam Rifles during an encounter at Hayang village under Kangpokpi Police station in the Senapati District. While one Assam Rifles personnel, Ramu, sustained injuries in the encounter, an M-16 rifle was recovered from the possession of the slain militant.

2008

• December 19: The Military Council faction of the KNF serves a threat of ‘capital punishment’ to seven persons residing at Kwakta village in the Bishnupur District for their alleged involvement in drugs smuggling and subsequent violence at same village, involving KNF cadres and villagers resulting in the death of two persons and injury of four others.

• December 16: The local people of Kwakta lynch to death a suspected KNF cadre while trying to abduct two Muslim elders, identified as Mohammed Ahmad and Mohammed Itao of Kwakta village under Moirang Police Station in the Bishnupur District.

• December 9: Around 15 KNF cadres abduct Rengmeithang Kom, chief of Thayong village in the Senapati District, from his residence and demanded a sum of INR 100000 as a ‘fine’ for not attending a meeting of village chiefs of the area. Later, he is released after a ransom payment of INR 80,000 in the morning of December 10.

• December 5: A KNF cadre, Paolun Khongsai, is arrested by a team of Imphal East district police commandos from New Checkon. He belongs to Lhangjeng village at Leitop in the Senapati district. One demand letter of the KNF-Zogam is recovered from his possession.

• November 23: Police arrests a person, Thanga Hmar, while coming to Haflong market to serve an extortion note in the guise of the KNF 'area commander', Stenli Kuki.

• November 6: The Dimapur District Police and India Reserve Battalion personnel arrested 14 suspected KNF cadres during two simultaneous search operations in Dimapur and rescued one driver earlier abducted by suspected militants. Police recovered eight mobile handsets, one 7.65 pistol with five rounds, one .9-mm pistol with eight live rounds and some documents from the militants’ possession.

• October 30: A ‘corporal’ of the Samuel faction of the KNF, identified as Mangboi Haokip alias Karbin, is shot dead by suspected cadres of the Military Council faction of the KNF at Muongbung Tea Estate in Sejang village under Jiri police station of Churachandpur district.

• September 21: One suspected KNA 'commander' is killed by the rival KNF militants at Samuthong under Lamlai police station. They decamp with an AK-47 of the slain militant.

• September 11: The Military Council faction of the KNF claims that its cadre have shot at and wounded three drug peddlers in the Churachandpur district. The outfit further claims that they are paraded before the media persons along with 1200 RP tablets ‘seized’ from them.

• August 11: Three employees of the State electricity department, including an assistant engineer identified as Konthoujam Ranjit Singh, were abducted by the KNF militants when they were on their way from Mao in the Senapati district to capital Imphal along the National Highway-39.

• 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: The 'information and publicity secretary' of the KNF, identified as Isack Kuki, said that the outfit has agreed to 'relieve' one of its cadres, Haokhothang alias Doctorpu, on humanitarian and health grounds. He also said that 'letter heads' of the outfit without 'logo' and 'emblem' on the centre of the paper were fake. He asked individuals and officials not to give ransom without receipt.

• May 19: The joint secretary of the Tamenglong-Jiri Zone of the Kuki Inpi (apex body of the Kuki tribe in Manipur), identified as Paoihum Khongsai, is stabbed to death by suspected militants, including a cadre of the Military Council faction of the KNF identified as Seigin Khongsai, at Leisangphai village in the Tamenglong district. Later, people in retaliation kill Seigin.

• May 17: Two cadres of the Prithvi faction of the KNF, identified as Thangjalien and Minthang, and two KRA cadres, Paominlien Haokip and Jacob Jangchin, are arrested by the Army personnel from Chalwa village under Kangpokpi sub-division in the Senapati district.

• May 11: 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.

• April 10: Sangai Express reports that L.H. Stephen, 'publicity secretary' of the KNF, while denying the presence of the Kuki Revolutionary Army-Unification (KRA-U) outfit at Kangpokpi area in the Senapati district, stated that any group wanting to operate or carry out any specific operation for any duration within the area of operation of the KNF, should first seek the 'permission' or else it might be forcibly 'evicted'.

2007

• December 23: Militants belonging to the Presidential faction of the KNF take 28 Meitei persons, including some students, while traveling in the Senapati district. However, all of them were later released.

• 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 KLA to collect money and paddy from the villagers. He claimed that five KNF cadres were wounded in the clash.

• December 6: The KNF asks two persons, Khaikholam Haokip and Nehminthang Baite, to ‘surrender’. The outfit alleges that they are involved in several cases of extortion and the looting of passenger vehicles between Motbung and Sapermeina in the Senapati district, and they have escaped to the Churachandpur district and have received shelter from an unnamed civil society organisation.

• 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 27: Three suspected KNF cadres, identified as Thanglen Touthang, Lunkhuthang Haokip and Salam Gobind alias Jonny, are arrested by Manipur Police during a search operation at New Chekon area in the Imphal East district.

• November 15: The ‘vice-chairman’ of the Military Council faction of the KCP, identified as Oinam Suran-joy alias Sanjoy alias Joy alias Piba, is arrested during a search operation at Yumnam Khunou area in the Imphal East district. Two more cadres of the same facion, Chanam Bikram Singh and Laishram Chandra-kumar Singh alias Ibungo-chouba alias Michael, are arrested from their respective houses at Kongba Laishram Leikai in the Imphal West district on the same day. They confess that they were operating under one L. Khomba, and were asked to extort INR 30,000 and INR 40,000 from the Manager of Singjamei branch of the Urban Co-operative Bank and Digen, Superintendent Engineer of Soibam Leikai, respectively for the outfit. They are also asked to demand eight SK oil tankers from Golmei, Inspector of the Food and Civil Supplies Department.

• November 11: One militant of the Presidential faction of the KNF, identified as Lethomang Baite, is arrested by police during a search operation at Keithelmanbi in the Senapati district. Lethomang was operating at Kangpokpi area under another militant, ‘ss sgt’ Jelly, who was involved in extortion of ransom from the passenger buses along the National Highway -53.

• November 7: Two KNF militants, Thangsikhup Jaiche alias Akhup and Umsophul Rangla, are arrested from Keithelmanbi area in the Imphal East district.

• 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: Four unidentified KNF militants are arrested by the SFs from Dholai area in the Cachar district of Assam while traveling from Aizawl in Mizoram to Silchar in Assam.

• 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 25: Suspected KNF cadres fired upon a house-cum-shop owned by one Dayamoi at Heirangoithong in the Imphal West district. Though no casualty is reported, a hand grenade in a polythene bag was found near the door of the shop.

• September 17: Two persons, Tongkholun Kipgen and Henzapao Guite, are shot dead by suspected cadres of the Military Council faction of the KNF and USRA at the foothills of Boljol village in the Churachandpur district. Empty cases of AK rifles are recovered from the incident site. September 13: Two cadres of the Zougam faction of the KNF, Thounaojam Romi alias Kamini and Wahengbam Sunil alias Chaoba, are arrested from Assembly Road crossing in the Imphal East district.

• August 29: A youth, Flode Paomai, is assaulted by the public for extortion in the name of the KNF outfit at Chingmeirong Paomai colony in the Imphal East district.

• June 12: Police killed four unidentified cadres of the president faction of the KNF during an exchange of fire at Gelnel village in the Senapati district. One police personnel identified as Mj. Dhaiya, also sustained injuries during the clash. Police also recovered three weapons, including one light machine gun and an M-16 rifle, along with a huge quantity of ammunition from the incident site.

• June 5: In the continuing factional clashes among Kuki militant outfits, 'finance commander' of the Zogam faction of the KNF, identified as Dongkhogin Haokip, is shot dead by an unidentified cadre of the Presidential faction of the KNF at Sapermeina area in the Senapati district.

• May 29: The Zougam faction of the KNF outfit killed five of its cadres, Dany, Seitinlal, Paominlen, Hencha and Lalminlul alias Jerry, who deserted the outfit's camp at T Bijang in the Churachandpur district. The KNF recovered one lethod gun, four AK series rifles and one M-16 from the slain deserters.

• February 12: An encounter was reported between SF personnel and militants of the KNF's Military Council faction at N. Boljang village in the Senapati district. There was no casualty in the incident.

• 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 slain KNF militant was identified as Hengoumang Kipgen.

2006

• November 30: The 'public relation officer' of the Samuel faction of the Kuki National Front, 'captain' Namjapao, is 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 16: Security force personnel arrested a Kuki National Front (KNF) militant, Lunkim Thangkhomang Khongsai alias Mangboi, from Chingmeirong in the Imphal East district. Two letters of extortion, signed by T S Roneg of the outfit, was recovered from his possession.

• April 1: Four staff members of a private recording studio belonging to the Hmar community are abducted by KNF cadres belonging to its Zougam faction from Tuibong for their refusal to pay extortion amount of Rupees 200,000.

• December 21: The 'defense secretary' of KNF, Mangoi, is killed during an encounter with the police in the Imphal West district.

• December 15: Four militants are killed in a clash between the KNA and KNF-P at the Koubru Hill Range under Gamnom Sapermeina police station in Senapati district.

• August 28: The KNF opposes any handing over of 'Kuki territories' to the NSCN-IM without prior consent and mandate of the Kuki tribals. Claiming that Nagas are the 'non owner of the land', the outfit says that it is keeping a close tab on the Union Government's negotiations with the NSCN-IM.

• May 11: Suspected KNF cadres abduct Paokai Haokip, a former Member of Parliament, and four village chiefs from Saitu in the Senapati district, accusing them of "a nexus with the security force personnel."
  
  Assam Rifles personnel neutralise a KNF camp located near K Sajal village of Sadar Hills.
  

• April 4: Three KNF (Samuel faction) cadres are killed during an internecine clash with the rival Military Council faction (KNF-MC) at Molcham village in the Churachandpur district.

• March 30: KNF cadres shoot at and injure five wine vendors in the Kalapahar area under Kangpokpi police station in Imphal East district.

• March 10: A KNF (Zougam faction) cadre, identified as Alex Khaute, surrenders before the Chief Minister Ibobi Singh.

• February 23: Three KNF (Military Council faction) cadres are arrested from the Lamlong area in Imphal East district.

2004

• October 25: Three KNF terrorists are killed in an encounter at a place between KR Lane and Golapati in the Imphal East district.

• October 24: Security forces kill a KNF-P cadre, identified as Nekhogin Kipgen, at Kalapahar under Kangpokpi police station limit in the Senapati district.

• September 21: Security forces arrest a cadre belonging to the KNF-MC faction during cordon and search operations at New Checkon in the Imphal East district.

• February 28: Three senior KNF-Z cadres are killed by the rival KNF-S in a factional gunfight at Hengjang near Patlian village in the Churachandpur district.

2003

• September 13: Assam Rifles personnel kill at least 10 KNF-MC cadres during an encounter at Sangtun village in the Senapati district.

• July 31: KNF issues a diktat to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and its contractors, who are executing the Loktak project, to restrict movement of their vehicles along the Leimatak route in Bishnupur district.

• July 13: Three suspected KNF cadres are killed during an encounter with the police at Gelbung village under the Saparmeina police station limits in the Sadar Hills area.

• April 05: KNF-MC claims responsibility for the grenade explosion at the Eastern Motors Ltd in Chingmeirong in which four persons, including two security force personnel, were injured on April 3.

• February 20: Army personnel in Jiribam subdivision unearth a PLA-KNF hideout in Sonapur area of Imphal East district and recover a Universal Machine Gun, a large quantity of ammunition and some incriminating documents.

2002

• July 25: Both the factions - the Military Council and Zougam - of the KNF decide to reunite through an agreement. The outfits agree to 'bury internal differences' to continue the joint-fight for 'Kukiland'.

• March 14: A KNF-MC cadre is killed in an encounter with the security forces near Bungmual village.

2001

• August 27: Three militants are killed in an internecine conflict between suspected cadres of the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and KNF-UNLF combine at Tokvum village, south of Churachandpur police station.

2000

• November 28: Two KNF cadres are arrested from the official residence of the State Transport Minister in Lamphel.

1998

• December 6: Sixteen KNF cadres are arrested from Yangnoi and Keithelmanbi in the Senapati district.

• May 29: The KNF enforces closure of St. Xavier's School at Moirang in the Bishnupur district for a year as the school authorities refuse to pay a sum of Rupees 20,000 as demanded by the outfit.

• January 17: Seven KNF cadres are arrested from different parts of Manipur.

• February 26: Eight KNF cadres are arrested from different parts of Manipur.

• February 20: One KNF cadre is arrested from Porompat in the Imphal East.

1997

• June 24; Four KNF cadres are killed during an encounter with the Amy at Haipi under Kangpokpi police station jurisdiction in the Senapati district.

• May 12: Nine KNF cadres, including a woman, are killed at Thinganagphai Kuki village in the Churachandpur district during a raid by the security forces.

• April 30: Eight Manipur Rifles personnel and a civilian are killed and 16 persons are injured as the KNF cadres ambush a security party escorting passenger buses at Saparmaina on the National Highway-39, thirty-five kilometers from the State capital Imphal.

1996

• October 29: Suspected KNF cadres attack a police party killing two police personnel, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, and injure six others at Mata village in the Churachandpur district.

1995

• August 14: KNF calls for a 48-hour Manipur bandh (strike) to press for the demand of a separate Kukiland to be carved out of the Kuki-inhabited areas in Manipur.