Imphal, September 03: The Kuki National Army has accused the State Police Department of violating the cease fire signed between it and the Centre on August 10 this year by shooting dead two cadres of the outfit on September 1 at Litanpokpi.

In a statement the outfit said that the gunning down of the two cadres by the Imphal East police commandos violated the ceasefire.

Refuting the official report that the encounter ensued after the KNA cadres opened fire at the police, the statement quoting eye witnesses said that the police commandos shot at three cadres of the KNA near a pharmacy at Litanpokpi.

Two of the cadres died at the spot while the other managed to escape.

Except for the two 9 mm pistols recovered there were no other weapons with the slain cadres, clarified KNA.

It is not true that the cadres armed with only two 9 mm pistols opened fire at the police team armed to the teeth, reasoned the outfit and added that the official report reeks of the same blatant fabrication furnished by the police when two cadres of the KNA were shot dead at Iroishemba on August 27.Despite the cease fire the gunning down of KNA cadres in two separate incidents within the span of a week inevitably induces the notion that the State police is tinged with communal motivations, charged the KNA.

The outfit demanded the release of its two arrested cadres and to hand over the police commandos involved in the killings to the KNA and compensation of Rs 5 lakhs each to the family members of the slain cadres.

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