Imphal, Manipur, April 18 (HBTV): A militant organization called the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) has claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack on oil and gas tankers on National Highway-37 connecting Imphal in Manipur and Silchar in Assam.     

A convoy of goods carriers including fuel tankers, escorted by security personnel, was moving toward Imphal when Kuki militants attacked them with a volley of fire at about 10.30 am between Tollen Kuki village and Kaimai village under Tousem sub-division in Tamenglong district. One driver sustained bullet injuries while four trucks were damaged.

In a statement, a ‘defense secretary’ of the UKNA owned responsibility for the gun attack on the vehicles plying on NH-37. The group stated the attack was launched as a first offensive operation against the supply of essential commodities and other weaponry that it alleged was to aid the Meitei community. 

Manipur continues to experience turmoil and tensions since ethnic violence started in May 2023 between the valley-based Meitei community and the hill-based Kuki-Zo tribes.    

The UKNA expressed regret for injuring a driver during the attack. However, it warned against any Imphal-bound goods transportations travelling on NH-37 and with immediate effect.  

The offensive operation, it was claimed, was initiated by the outfit given the ‘acute humanitarian crisis caused by the state government in the past 11 months and to check illegal transportation of bombs and other weaponry to attack the Kuki people.’  

The militant group stated further that the operation would be a continuing process. Any transporters ignoring the warnings would be treated as an enemy of the Kuki people and the persons responsible will face consequence, it stated.