Newly floated ADF claims responsibility for March 10 shoot out

IMPHAL: Newly floated militant outfit Aimol Defence Force ( ADF) has claimed responsibility for the shooting of a civilian at Pallel market in Chandel district on March 10, according to a press handout to the media.

The Manipur Police is yet to make any arrests in connection with the shooting.

Formed in 2015, after two factions developed within the small Aimol ethnic group, the new outfit in the press release said it was forced to form the outfit to protect the small Aimol community of less than 10,000 people.

The ethnic group had been facing continuous threats and intimidation from suspected NSCN(IM) militants, which wanted the tribe to be called Aimol Nagas, the police said.

The ADF statement termed the shooting of the civilian on March 10 as a "warning" to those who support the steps to convert the ethnic group into Aimol Nagas.