Formation
The Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) was formed in December 1999, allegedly with the support of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM).
In August 2007, the KRA underwent a split with the formation of the KRA-Unification in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam.
Leadership and cadre strength
Its top leaders include: Chairman - Thangkeng Hangshing, Publicity Secretary - Zet Kuki and Information Secretary - D.T. Haokip. On November 12, KRA Chairman Thangkeng Hangshing was killed by unidentified persons at the residence of his brother David at Sriniwaspuri in the national capital Delhi.
The KRA, before the formation of the Unification faction, was believed to have about 450 cadres of which about 180 of them were based in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam.
The KRA-Unification is headed by its President David Chongloi and General Secretary, W Lincoln. Ch Rocky is the outfit's Defence Secretary, K H Hills is the Finance Secretary and Ch Lenin, its Publicity Secretary.
The cadre strength of the KRA-Unification faction is not known. However, it is believed that about 150 KRA cadres based in the Karbi Anglong district have joined the faction.
Aims and Objectives
The primary objective of the KRA is to secure a “separate State” for the Kuki tribe within the Indian union and the unification of all scattered Kukis in the new homeland. In Assam, its declared objective is the creation of the “Kuki National Council”, an autonomous administrative council for the Kukis in the Karbi Anglong district. The KRA-Unification, on the other hand, aims at unifying the Kuki tribals.
Areas of Operation
Area of operation of the KRA includes parts of the Churachandpur, Chandel and Senapati districts in Manipur, and also the Kuki-inhabited areas of the Karbi Anglong district in Assam. The KRA-Unification, on the other hand, primarily functions in the Karbi Anglong district.
Linkages
The KRA maintains linkages with several militant outfits of the Northeast that includes: United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF), Kuki National Front - Military Council (KNF-MC), NSCN-IM, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Dima Halim Daogah (DHD).