KLA warns those involved in killing KLA leader and his daughter

IMPHAL, July 16, 2013 [TSE] --- Condemning in the strongest term the murder of KLO/KLA home secretary and his young daughter, the outfit has warned that it would not let off all those individuals/group involved in the murder.

Speaking to media persons at their designated camp yesterday, KLO/KLA general secretary L Timothy Kuki asked all concerned to explain the double murder on or before July 18 or face dire consequences.

It was a dastardly crime, he decried.

Even if home secretary Seikhopao alias Marwin had committed some mistakes, there was no reason for assaulting his wife and children.

"We want to know the principle and ideology of the group, if they have any", Timothy said.

It was most unfortunate that KLO's home secretary and his daughter were killed at a time when Kuki armed groups as well as civil organisations have come to the path of unification.

The death of Seikhopao alias Marwin is a big loss not only for the outfit but also for whole Manipur.

KLO/KLA's investigation department is investigating the twin murder. But it is too early to name any individual or group, Timothy said.

On behalf of KLO, he conveyed gratitude to all those who helped the wounded and took part in the funeral service from JNIMS mortuary till Saikul.

He also thanked Kuki Inpi Saikul, Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, KSO Ghqs, KSO Sadar Hills, Khongsai Inpi Manipur, leaders and cadres of KNO's member organisations and the general public.

The outfit further conveyed solidarity to the bereaved family.

KLO home secretary Seikhopao was assaulted and killed by some unidentified persons near Champhai village along Imphal-Saikul road. His two and a half year old daughter Hoijoukim who sustained injuries in the attacked later succumbed to the injuries.

In addition, Seikhopao's driver and aunt also sustained injuries.

KSO condemns on the killings of KLA leader and his minor daughter

IMPHAL, July 15, 2013 [TSE/NNN] : The Kuki Students' Organisation, General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) has vehemently condemned the July 13 Champhai incident in which a Saikul bound vehicle of the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) Home Secretary and his family members were heavily attacked by unknown assailants resulting in the instant death of Mr Seikhohao Khongsai alias Marwin, the Home Secretary of KLA and the subsequent death of his daughter Zoukim Khongsai who succumbed to her bullet injury later on July 14 at Shija Hospital in Imphal while causing serious injuries to two of the family members.

The KSO said it condemns in the strongest term whosoever may be the assailants, the enmity they have with the deceased KLA functionary is not much a matter of concern.

"However, indiscriminately firing upon civilians, women and children just to terminate their subject is of great concern to the student organization. Such barbaric and inhuman act of the assailants has no place in today's civilized world. It is a universal conventional practice that in every arm forces group engaged in combat whether state or non-state actor civilian safety is always set the top most priority," the Kuki students' body said.

It then added, "As a matter of fact, if they were a true revolutionary group they could have chosen for another suitable day seeing the innocent family members boarding the same vehicle with the subject in order to avoid the lost of innocent life of a little girl and casualties to other family members. If this unfortunate incident happens to be a factional fight amongst the armed groups, the KSO earnestly appeals to all the Kuki underground groups notwithstanding to their different political ideologies or demands to shun violence henceforth.

The civil organizations, the public and the Kuki populace have witnessed enough bloodshed amongst the brothers in arms and in between many innocent civilian lives had also gone in vain since the inception of Kuki revolutionary groups".

The KSO then appeals to the persons/group involved to clarify the reasons behind their act in public interest and urges not to repeat such acts in the future.