In a move that could further worsen the already volatile situation in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, the United Peoples Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) has rejected the Kuki Revolutionary Army’s (KRA)

peace proposal and appealed to all political parties and organisations to desist from responding to such overture by any outside force, including the KRA. Violent clashes in the district between the Karbis and Kukis have claimed several lives. UPDS publicity secretary Tung-eh Nongroda recently said that the KRA has no right whatsoever to speak on behalf of the indigenous Kukis of Karbi Anglong. He advised the indigenous Kukis not to identify themselves with outside forces like the KRA or this would otherwise invite further trouble for them. The UPDS also appealed to the State Government to uproot the KRA from Karbianglong to prevent recurrence of ethnic violence and also to probe the KRA claims of having support of outfits like the NDFB, DHD and NSCN(K). Mr Nongroda said by claiming to have support of these outfits in its fight against the Karbis, the KRA was trying to initimidate the Karbis and intensity the conflict. He said the KRA was also trying to justify its claim for a ‘’Kuki homeland’’ in Karbianglong district by projecting the Kuki population beyond 35,000 in Singhason hills, which was baseless.

The number of indigenous Kukis in the district would be not more than 2,000 and were confined in a few pockets in Karbianglong, he claimed.

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