Security Forces Capture UKNA Commander in Aizawl

Imphal: Security forces picked up the commander-in-chief of the banned United Kuki National Army on September 24. They nabbed Thangkhomang Haokip in Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram. The bust involved a joint operation between the Assam Rifles and the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau. Aizawl Superintendent of Police Zosangliana confirmed the arrest.

Intelligence officers are now hunting for other cadres hiding in the city. The group operates mostly in the Henglep subdivision of Manipur’s Churachandpur district. Unlike many other Kuki and Zomi militant outfits, the UKNA never signed the Suspension of Operations agreement with the Centre or the Manipur state government. A central intelligence official stated, "Security forces were also conducting searches for other cadres of the banned outfit who are reportedly hiding in Aizawl."

This capture follows the recent National Investigation Agency arrest of S Palal Thadou, the group's finance head. Thadou is linked to an April 7 IED blast in the Bishnupur district that killed two children. The broader ethnic conflict between Meitei and Kuki communities started in May 2023. Official reports confirm the violence killed 306 people, displaced thousands, and left 49 individuals missing.