UKHRUL, SEP 6: Two cadres of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) were killed and two others injured in a gunfight with security forces at Phaibong village under Henglep Sub-Division of Churachandpur district on September 2, the Assam Rifles said.
The operation by the Assam Rifles and Indian Army followed intelligence inputs about a UKNA camp in the area. Troops had been maintaining surveillance over the camp since August 29 before moving in at around 5 am on September 2, the Assam Rifles said.
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The security forces said UKNA cadres opened fire at around 5:30 am, following which troops returned fire.
Two cadres were killed and two others injured in the exchange, the forces said.
A search of the camp led to the recovery of two 5.56 mm MA rifles, an AK-56 rifle, a 40 mm Lathode gun and seven Lathode grenades. The forces also recovered 15 AK magazines, 371 rounds of AK-56 ammunition, 601 rounds of MA rifle ammunition and 172 SLR rounds. Fifteen combat uniforms, seven ammunition pouches, five backpacks, three combat bags and five pairs of jungle shoes were also recovered from the camp. Search operations were continuing in the surrounding jungle areas, the Assam Rifles said.
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The latest operation comes less than a year after a major operation by security forces where four UKNA cadres were killed in an encounter at Khanpi village in the same Henglep Sub-Division on November 4, 2025. The incident also drew condemnation from the Kuki Human Rights Council, which disputed the security forces’ account and described the killings as extrajudicial.
