Guwahati, June 15: A Kuki militant organisation has taken up cudgels for Moreh residents who have received extortion notices from outfits of the Manipur valley.
A leader of the Kuki Defence Force (KDF), which professes to represent the aspirations of the state?s Kuki community, said his group would not tolerate attempts by any militant outfit to harass the people of the border town.
Moreh, located on the Indo-Myanmar border, is a predominantly Kuki-inhabited area.
?We have taken serious note of some valley-based and hitherto unknown organisations serving extortion notes on local residents here (Moreh),? KDF spokesperson Zalaithang Kuki, who is in charge of the outfit?s ?department of public grievances cell?, told The Telegraph over phone from his hideout on the Indo-Myanmar border.
The KDF, which has about 500 members in its ranks, wants the valley-based militant outfits to immediately withdraw the extortion notices ?in the interest of peace and tranquillity? or be ready for ?untoward consequences?.
Claiming to have formed the KDF in 1991 to shield the Kukis from extortion by the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), the outfit?s spokesperson said his organisation was committed to the task of protecting the interests and identity of the community.
He said the outfit had been offered the opportunity for peace talks with the Centre.
However, it would consider accepting it only if there was an assurance from Delhi that the rights and identity of the Kukis would be protected.