The Hindu : Police launch manhunt for KLA militants

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 11, 2003

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National

Police launch manhunt for KLA militants

By Our Correspondent

IMPHAL APRIL 10. Within a few hours of the release of the German national, Heinrich Wolfgang, last night, police and paramilitary forces launched a massive combing operation for the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) militants who had kidnapped him on March 23. Since the militants had threatened to kill Mr. Wolfgang if rescue operations were launched, the police had refrained from searching for him, according to a top-ranking police officer.

During the 18-days of captivity of Mr. Wolfgang, the Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi, who also holds the Home portfolio, had been summoned three times to New Delhi by the Union Home Ministry. The State Government had been unable to rescue any of the abducted persons in the past, be it Government officials, presspersons or businessmen. Mr. Ibobi is understood to have pointed out that unless the pre-Kargil strength of the security forces was restored, kidnapping by militants for ransom could not be tackled.

Kidnapping for huge amounts of ransom has been reported in the State for over 15 years. Businessmen and their children have been killed by their captors as their families could not deliver the ransom amounts and the police had shadowed the militants.

Following the killings, families whose relatives were kidnapped decided not to take the police into confidence. Mr. Ibobi has assured the Central leaders that if there was enough number of security forces the increasing lawlessness could be checked.

This week the police have shot dead at least three Kukis said to be carrying hand grenades.

Police now plan regular combing operations in all the hideouts of tribal militants.

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