Imphal, March 9: Members of the Kuki community of Manipur today congregated at Kangpokpi, in Senapati district, for a protest rally against the continued detention of a Church leader by the militant Kuki Liberation Army (KLA).

T. Lunkim, secretary of the Kuki Christian Church of Imphal and chairman of the Kuki Movement for Human Rights, has been in KLA custody for over 50 days. The militant group took Lunkim hostage after summoning him to Saikul, also in Senapati district, on January 17 to ?settle some differences?.

The KLA denied that he was being held for ransom, but did impose a ?fine? on the tribal leader for allegedly working against its interests.

Nearly 5,000 protesters participated in the Kangpokpi rally, demanding Lunkim?s release. The Kuki Students? Organisation convened the rally with support from other community forums.

Members of Kuki Inpi, which is the apex organisation of the tribal community, Kuki Movement for Human Rights, Kuki Christian Leaders? Fellowship, Kuki Women?s Union and Kuki Mothers? Association attended the rally. The protest was a peaceful one, officials in Senapati confirmed.

Tonghen Kipgen, president of the Kuki Students? Organisation, said the KLA had unfairly accused the Church leader of taking Rs 9 lakh from Delhi in the name of the militant group. The money was allegedly sanctioned in the outfit?s name for signing an informal ceasefire agreement with security forces last year.

Kipgen said the KLA asked Lunkim to hand over the Rs 9 lakh allegedly taken by him, imposed a fine of Rs 41 lakh and asked him to deposit another Rs 50 lakh as ?security deposit?.

The student leader revealed that a probe by a fact-finding committee of community elders acquitted Lunkim. The report was submitted to the KLA, he said.

After the rally, the protesters submitted a memorandum to chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh seeking steps to secure the Church leader?s release.