CM tells Delhi to tell IM to hand over ‘killers’

IMPHAL, Feb 23: A day after the NSCN (IM) admitted that one of its Lt Cols identified as Hopeson Ningshen masterminded the brutal killing of Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Th Kishan and his two staff, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today has sent a missive to the Union Home Ministry to instruct to the Ceasefire Monitoring Group to hand over the killers to the custody of the State Government.

The message which was sent before the Chief Minister left Imphal categorically stated that the present case has shown that the NSCN (IM) has been letting loose a reign of terror in Manipur and demanded that the accused be handed over to the State Government to deliver justice.

In his missive, the Chief Minister also recalled the past instances when the IM group had subverted the process of law.

The Chief Minister is set to meet the Union Home Minister and highlight the role of the IM group in the killing of the SDO as well as recall past incidents, such as the cases of Hrinii Hubert and Muheni Martin, said the source.

The Naga rebel group, which is engaged in peace talks with the Government of India for 11 years now, yesterday disclosed that three persons who were suspected to be involved in the killing have been taken into custody for further interrogation.

Accordingly, the Chief Minister today communicated with the Home Ministry to give necessary instruction to the Ceasefire Monitoring Group for handing over the three suspects who are in the custody of the NSCN (IM) to the State Govt so as to help in dispensing of justice, disclosed a Cabinet Minister of the SPF Govt. On the other hand, according to a top police officer, interrogation of the three staff who were abduc-ted together with Dr Kishan but rescued from Tolloi in Ukhrul district by a joint team of Assam Rifles and Manipur has led to some conclusions that are similar to the disclosure of the NSCN (IM). The police officer conveyed that the black colour Bolero used for transportation of the three staff rescued from Tolloi has been recovered. The three rescued staff are being kept in the custody of the Assam Rifles on security reason, the police officer explained.

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NSCN IM seeks some more time

Dimapur, Feb 23: The NSCN-IM has said tonight that the outfit’s ‘official decision and action’ on the killers of Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Kishan and his two staff could not be taken today as some more persons involved in the barbaric act, are yet to be rounded up.. ‘Lt Col’ H Ningshen was held responsible by the NSCN-IM on Sunday as the mastermind in the gruesome killing of the SDO and his two subordinates. The NSCN- IM’s Ministry of Information and Publicity said that the outfit is on the war-path to bring justice and that it would award punishment according to the severity of the crime involved in the killing at the earliest.

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RIMS morgue to Gandhi Ghat : Three souls take last journey

IMPHAL, Feb 23 : Mortal remains of SDO Thingnam Kishan, Mandal Yumnam Token and Driver Aribam Rajen who were brutally murdered by cadres belonging to the NSCN (IM) were claimed by respective family members amidst a tearful funeral procession.

As per an understanding reached between the family members, JAC and the Government, the last rites of the three slain employees were performed at Gandhi Ghat, Uripok. Following an agreement between the JAC and the Government, family members, relatives and a large number of people including members of different civil society organisations came to RIMS mortuary to claim the mortal remains this morning.

As the mortal remains were brought out from the mortuary, a large number of people particularly women broke down and sobbed giving vent to their emo- tions. The lifeless bodies were then put on three trucks one after another in three well decorated coffins. Thereafter a large number of people took out a funeral procession starting from Lamphel traffic point. From there, the procession snaked through RIMS Road, Nagamapal, Waheng-bam Leikai, Keishampat and Singjamei Yumnam Leikai through Keishamthong.

At Yumnam Leikai, the birthplace of Yumnam Token, people paid floral tributes to the three persons who were found murdered in the most primitive method using crude weapons. From Yumnam Leikai, the procession headed to the homes of the other two victims at Uripok and Nagamapal carrying all the three coffins. The rallyists who took part in the funeral procession held placards which read as, “Let truth be your walking stick, Ibobi”, “Truthful persons are unable to live”, “Why are the unbridled rulers so afraid”, “Won’t the Government protect lives of innocent citizens.” IM’s peace in the hills, deaths in the valley!

Earlier, as the three trucks carrying the three coffins approached RIMS Road Crossing, police halted the procession and asked the people to take the three coffins to their houses separately. To this, the shocked and aggrieved people maintained that they would take the three corpses together as they died together. Enraged and visibly upset by the police instruction, a large number of people lay prostrate on the road in front of the vehicles carrying coffins.

At this moment, some people took down the coffins containing mortal remains of Token and Rajen and put them on the truck carrying the coffin of Kishan.

Finally , the people’s wish prevailed and mortal remains of the three persons were brought to the houses of each of them together one after another where a large number of people paid their last respects. Moreover, at several points along the route of the procession, people came out and paid floral tributes to the departed souls.

The tearful and heart-rending procession culminated at Gandhi Ghat where State Government officials paid tribute to the slain employees. The Government officials who came there to pay obeisance to the departed souls included Ministers, MLAs, the Chief Secretary, the DGP and other high-ranking officials. This was followed by a Manipur Rifles team offering gun salute in honour of the employees killed in the line of duty. Later, mortal remains of Dr Thingnam Kishan, Y Token and Aribam Rajen were put to rest with customary rites.

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JAC set to resume intense agitation from today

IMPHAL, Feb 23: Maintaining that three of its primary demands have not been fulfilled yet, the JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Dr Th Kishan, Y Token and A Rajen has decided to resume its stir from tomorrow.

Addressing a press meet here this evening, JAC convenor Y Kapur detailed that mass sit-in-protests will be staged on February 24 and 25 followed by a protest rally on February 26. This would be followed by a public meeting at Nagamapal Kangjabi ground.

Another convenor Y Khemchand demanded that report of the committee constituted by the Government in connection with the murder should be published by February 27.

There has no agreement with the Government on the JAC’s demand to take up criminal proceedings against suspended DC Pankaj Kumar Pal, punishment of the culprits according to law of the land and saving lives of the surviving abducted employees.

Even as Chief Minister O Ibobi claimed to have rescued the surviving employees abducted together Dr Kishan and his two staff, Khemchand asserted that the Government’s claim lack clarity.

Observing that NSCN (IM) has admitted involvement of its cadres in the murder, he said that the JAC still has nagging suspicion about Pankaj Kumar Pal’s involvement in the murder according to reports furnished by family members, Khemchand asserted that as it is likely that the suspended DC might have nexus with the rebel group, it is only logical to take up criminal proceedings against Pankaj Kumar.

As regards NSCN (IM), the JAC has not yet lost its faith that the Union and State Governments would take up necessary actions according to law, Khemchand confided. He also decried the alleged firing of several rounds of tear gas shells and rubber bullets by police at Yumnam Leikai last night when there was no assemblage of people. JAC chairman Soram Tiken contended that AIR news report which said that the corpses would be claimed with an appeal to the Chief Minister was totally false. The mortal remains were claimed after an MoU was signed between the Government and the JAC, Tiken clarified while decrying that the AIR Imphal news report projected JAC functionaries in the wrong light.

Appreciating the cooperation and support extended by different sections of people during the protest movement launched from February 17, the JAC chairman expressed regret for the injuries caused to strike supporters.

Source: THE SANGAI EXPRESS

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