SUMMARY
KRA (Kuki Revolutionary Army) was founded with the support of NSCN-IM (Nationalist Socialist council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah faction) in December 1999. After the split between KRA and the new outfit Kuki Revolutionary Army-Unification (with the goal of achieving welfare of Kukis, Meiteis and additional communities), the KRA was believed to be consisting of 450 cadres. Due to internal incompatibilities, the group became factionalised and split in 2007 when the splinter group KRA-Unification was established in Karbi Anglong in the Assam region. The main objective of KRA is to create an independent land for the Kuki tribes within India including scattered Kuki tribes residing outside the borders of India. The most important region for the Kuki tribes is the Assam district where KRA is aiming at establishing a Kuki national council. However, the area of operation is located in the districts of Senapi and Chandal in Manipur.
The chairman of KRA was Thangkaneng Hangshing along with Public secretary Zet Kuki and Information secretary, D.T. Haokip . However, Hangshing was killed by a rivalling group in south Delhi in 2004. Numerous unidentified men beat the former chairman to death with a hammer. KRA was partly created due to NSCN-IM and its wish to undermine the influence of another Kuki group, KNA (Kuki National Army). However, the substantial aid that was provided by NSCN-IM was denied by the KRA. As KNA claimed the same landmass as NSCN-IM, the group became a serious threat. NSCN-IM has been a consistent purveyor of weapons as well as providing training ground in Nagaland. In order to finance their activities, KRA has been engaging in extortion, a rather common criminal activity in the area. Despite being in conflict with various Kuki movements, the support of KRA was a way of destabilising the economic rival, the Kuki National Army (KNA) as KRA and KNA are rivals. Thus KRA has an interest in undermining KNA.
Due to its rivalry with KNA, KRA cadres have been attacking fellow Kuki tribesmen, accusing them of supporting KNA. These harassments have led to an exodus of Kuki to the Muslim dominated area of Karbi Anglong, a migration that has aggravated the ethnic tension between militant Karbi groups and KRA. KRA has declared a desire to initiate peace talks with the Indian government, however, armed attacks have continued.
KRA has been involved in the one-sided category of UCDP organised violence.
