Militant leader staying at camp for peace talks shot dead

A top self-styled militant leader of Kuki National Front-President, staying at a 'designated camp' in Manipur's interior Senapati district for holding peace talks with the government, was shot dead from point blank range, the police said on Saturday.

Self-styled leader of KNF-P Seikhopao Kipgen, who is also the 'commander' of the designated camp, was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Thursday night when he along with two body guards was returning to the camp, they said.

Kipgen, who received more than six bullet wounds, died on the spot while the two bodyguards received bullet injuries but their condition was stated to be out of danger, sources said. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Official sources said KNF-P along with some other Kuki militant outfits who were demanding a 'Kukiland' by dividing Manipur had signed 'suspension of operation' with the state and central government representatives a few years ago under which both central and state forces stopped operation against them.

Sources said these militants were also being kept at 'designated camp' during the process of holding of formal peace talks with the government which asked them to deposit all their arms in the camp and to stop extortion from the public also.