IMPHAL, May 31 : The Zeliangrong Youth Front (Nungba zone) has strongly reacted to a press statement issued by Papao Haokip, a self styled chairman, in a local English newspaper in Imphal.
Papao is the elder brother of the commander-in-chief of the KNF(MC), and the ZYF has said that it is ridiculous that the underground group who entered into a suspension of operation agreement with the government appointed a stranger to be the chairman of the Nungleiban village to create animosity between two tribal communities of Manipur.
Papao’s claim that he is the chairman of a Kuki village clearly indicates that his claim is bogus as Kuki village is headed by a hereditary chief and not by a chairman of the village.
Clarifying that there is no ancestral land of the Kuki in and around the Old Cachar Road as claimed by him, the ZYF said on the allegation of the villagers inviting the NSCN(IM) to guard the village that it was nothing but an attempt to hide the illegal activities of the KNF(MC) whose commander in chief happens to be his younger brother.
It further said that the activities of the said outlawed organisation under the cover of the SoO was terrorising the innocent villagers of Nungleiband (Apinjang Ganglon Pt. IV). The recent encounter between the cadres of the KNF(MC) and 11 Assam Rifles on May 13 at Nungleiband was vivid evidence for the general public, the ZYF said.