KNF laments NSCN IM tax collection from Kuki village, demands clarification

KANGPOKPI, February 13: The Kuki National Front (KNF) today has vehemently showed dissent over the collection of tax from villagers of T. Kholmun, a Kuki village under Kangpokpi sub-division allegedly by NSCN (IM) and demanded clarification over the incident.

A press communique signed by the outfit’s Information and Publicity secretary, LH Stephen alleged that on January 25 morning 13 armed cadres of the NSCN-IM intruded into T Kholmun Kuki Village and demanded Rs. 20,000/- from the villagers as tax, and left only after collecting Rs 13,000 from the villagers.

It continued to allege that the NSCN-IM militants took the village church funds contributed by church members as well as offerings, etc as the villagers could not pay the tax amount demanded by the militant outfit.

It also alleged that the NSCN-IM militants were stationed at a Naga village called Thebram under Kangpokpi Sub-Division.

The outfit recalled that in the 1990s, the NSCN-IM had collected tax from Kuki villages in Kuki dominated areas and ultimately it developed into the ugly 1993 incident.

It continued that the severe destruction, suffering, torture and despair meted out to the Kuki people during the 1993 incident have never withered from their minds till today.

But, to maintain peace and tranquillity among the neighbouring brothers, we are coping with our sentiments and keep on moving in striving for peaceful coexistence, it said.

“It is very unfortunate that the NSCN-IM militants still indulged in collecting tax from Kuki villages in Kuki dominated areas”, it said while adding that the Kuki militants’ never indulged in such activities towards Naga villages in Naga dominated areas till now so as to retain the understanding and mutual respect.

KNF cautioned the NSCN-IM militants to return back the church funds which they had collected from T Kholmun villagers on January 25 and abstain from further harassing the villagers.

It further said that KNF will not tolerate “our people being threatened and forced to pay tax on gun point in our ancestral land which our forefathers had protected even from the mighty British invaders.”

While demanding clarification over the incident on the part of the NSCN-IM authority, the Kuki National Front cautioned that the outfit will take the matter gravely by involving the apex Kuki bodies if NSCN-IM fails to clarify the issue.