Road blocks being put to protest the killing of the three persons, rally being staged to decry the inhuman killing

A New Definition Of Barbaric Killing Invites 48 Hrs Gen Strik; Bandh Already Enforced In Ukhrul Kasom Khullen SDO, two subordinates found bludgeoned to death By Our Staff Reporter IMPHAL, Feb 17 : In an incident that was as gruesome and chilling and which gave a new definition to what is barbaric, the SDO of Kasom Khullen in Ukhrul district Dr Thingnam Kishan and two of his subordinate staff Aribam Rajen alias Amuba and another staff from the Revenue Dept, Yumnam Token were found brutally bludgeoned to death at Taphou Kuki village in Senapati district. A blood stained spade and an equally blood stained huge stone used to eliminate them were found as mute testimonies near the bodies today. As the bodies of the slain SDO, an MCS officer of the 2007 batch, and his two subordinates were brought to RIMS morgue hundreds of people congregated there to receive the bodies. Taking a serious view of the incident, the State Cabinet which met today afternoon has strongly condemned the barbaric killing and has decided to hand over the case to the CBI, said a reliable source while speaking to The Sangai Express. To compensate for disastrous deaths, the Cabinet has also decided to provide a job to the next of kins of the three killed Government employees, said the source and added that exgratia amount of Rs 10 lakhs would be paid to the family members of the murdered SDO while Rs 5 lakhs each would be provided to the families of the other two killed. The late 38 years young officer Dr Thingnam Kishan, born to Th Surendra, hailed from Nagamapal Kangjabi Leirak, while his driver Aribam Rajen alias Amuba son of Ibopishak hailed from Uripok Khoisnam Leikai. The employee from the Revenue Department, a Mondal, is identified as Yumnam Token (38) son of late Sudhir of Chingamathak Yumnam Leikai. Their bodies were recovered from near Lukhrabi bridge, Taphou Kuki village located about 7 Kms to the south of Senapati district headquarters today at about 7 am. As news of the dastardly killings spread, people of Uripok Khoisnam Leikai from where the driver hailed came staged a protest rally and blocked the Uripok-Kangchup road near the Flyover in the evening. A similar road block was also put up along the Imphal-Moreh route along NH-39 at Yumnam Leikai. To defuse the situation, IG (LO-I) M Karnajit and SSP of Imphal West rushed to the sites of the protests. To decry the killing, a JAC formed in connection with the brutal killing has imposed a 48 hour Statewide bandh with effect from 12 midnight today. The ACOAM Lup has also called for a 48 hour bandh from midnight today. The three slain persons were found dead with their hands tied behind with barbed wires and their heads smashed with a heavy object. A blood stained spade as well as a blood stained huge stone were found near the corpses. A brief case and an air bag containing documents and the ID card of the Revenue Dept employee of were also found near the bodies. DIG Range IV came to the morgue to oversee things. Speaking to the media, the wife of the late SDO said that her husband left for Ukhrul district headquarters on February 13 along with six employees in a Gypsy (MN04/5799) to attend a meeting convened by the Deputy Commissioner. The SDO reportedly told his wife that he would be back the next day (Feb 14). The bereaved wife further said that she received a call from the DC himself on February 13 noon that he came across the Gypsy at Siroy village along NH-150 and asked her for the mobile number of Kishan along with the driver’s so that he (DC) could tell them to come back. The wife of the young late officer added that since her husband did to return home till Sunday, the family made some inquiries and were told that he (Kishan) along with the occupants of the Gypsy were in the custody of the NSCN (IM). There was never any monetary demands or threats on the family, she maintained. The wife of the driver also narrated the same story as the wife of the SDO. Senapati police has registered a case in connection with the brutal murder, said the SP of the district NK Ujjwal. No arrests have been made so far, said the SP. On being contacted a senior officer of the Ukhrul police said that though the SDO and his men were abducted on February 13, no formal complaints were registered. Accordingly a report was registered in the general diary and search ops were started. Talking to newsmen the convenor of the JAC, Sapam Subhankar, which has imposed the 48 hour general strike said that the Government must produce the other three persons who were abducted along with the slain SDO. The other three are identified as Ramthing, Ramshing and Ngam-phakhui Zimik. Taking a very serious view of the situation, Chief Minister O Ibobi today convened a high level security meeting to discuss the law and order situation in the State. Among others, the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), DGP GOC of 57 Mountain Division, IG AR (South) attended the meeting, said a reliable source while speaking to The Sangai Express. During the meeting the top brass of the security forces could not give any clue about the identities of of the killerd, said the source. In another development, the SDO of Tadubi has left his place of posting following and renewed threats, said the source.

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A security personnel keeps guard in a bunker at a border area

Sanitising Loktak Lake After Hovercrafts it is now armed speed boats By Our Staff Reporter IMPHAL, Feb 16 : After Hovercraft it is now armed speed boat to be utilised for flushing underground cadres from Loktak Lake and the surrounding areas. The decks have been cleared for the State police to be equipped with the state of the art armed speed boat used by the Coast Guard and the Army to flush out militants holed up in Loktak Lake and the surrounding areas. The new initiative has been taken up as sanitising Loktak Lake has become the top agenda of the State Government. Speaking to The Sangai Express a reliable source said that following a green signal from the Union Home Ministry the process of purchasing the speed boat has started to primarily flush out militants from Loktak Lake and the surrounding areas. Stating that a clear cut instruction was issued by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram during his recent visit to Imphal to take up all possible measures to rein in the militants, the source said that the State Government mooted the proposal of procuring the speed boats. During his visit here, the Union Home Minister was categorical in stating that extortions by militant groups need to be checked. To procure the speed boats, the State Government has despatched the SP of Bishnupur police K Jayenta and OC of Bishnupur police commando Sudhir to Kochi in Kerela to assess the speed boats, said the source. The speed boats will be assessed by the State police team as well as by personnel from the Coast Guard and the BSF, said the source and added that a minute study will be conducted to see whether the speed boat can be used on Loktak Lake. The State police team presently at Kochi along with officers from the Coast Guard and the BSF will also inspect three Hovercrafts. Each Hovercraft will have the capacity to seat 5 to 10 people. The source said that the decision to acquire the speed boats and the relatively smaller Hovercraft was taken because it will be more convenient at Loktak Lake. Towards acquiring the three Hovercrafts a meeting chaired by the Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and attended by the State Additional Chief Secretary DS Poonia, DGP Y Joykumar and officers from the Water Wing of the BSF and Coast Guard was held at Delhi last month. To flush out militants from Loktak Lake as well as to save it from further degradation, the State Govern- ment has already finalised the recruitment process of the Loktak Lake Protection Force. Moreover five sites have been identified to station the personnel. The State Cabinet had also earlier instructed the DGP to open a Special Cell to check the activities of militants.

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A tough Chief Minister says no to designated camps here while inspecting the works for JNIMS

N o designated camp will be allowed: CM By Our Staff Reporter IMPHAL, Feb 4: The State Government being not a party to the truce pact signed between the Government of India and NSCN (IM), ceasefire between the two parties should not be enforced in Manipur and no designated camps of the rebel group would be allowed within the boundary of Manipur, stated Chief Minister Okram Ibobi. The Chief Minister was speaking to reporters during his inspection visit of the ongoing infrastructure deve- lopment work for the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences at Porompat this morning. He was accompanied by Health Minister Ph Parijat and Works Minister K Ranjit. Without specifically stating that the peace talk with the Union Government is with a rebel group based in Nagaland to which the State Government is not a party, the Chief Minister categorically stating that the State Government is not a party to the parleys between Government of India and NSCN (IM), the Chief Minister asserted that the State Government would not allow extension of the ceasefire within the boundary of Manipur nor permit establishment of any designated camp for the rebel group in the State. No UG group will be allowed to open their camps in Manipur, unless the group(s) strike an agreement with the State Government first, the Chief Minister said. However, demands for sovereignty from any UG group will not be considered as Manipur is a part of democratic, sovereign country of India, he asserted. On being asked about the recent siege laid by Assam Rifles around an NSCN (IM) camp at Siroy and subsequent safe passage given to the rebel cadres till a designated camp located in Senapati district which AR claimed to have been ‘approved’, Ibobi denied existence of any such camp. There was no ‘identified’ NSCN (IM) in Manipur, he asserted. Notably, proposals were made for NSCN (IM)’s designated camps at Tamenglong, Senapati and Chandel to the then incumbent Governments at both the State and Centre in 1998, 2000 and 2001. During the tense Siroy stand-off between AR and NSCN (IM), the State Government conveyed its stance explicitly to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister that no designated camp for NSCN (IM) will be allowed in Manipur. Moreover, troops deployed in the State were also informed that there was no harm in performing their duties, he stated. Talking about the tripartite peace talk between KNO, UPF, the State Government and the Union Government, Ibobi said that cadres of these two conglomerates of Chin-Kuki-Mizo UG groups will be issued identity cards after physical verification. Both the groups claimed to have 1800 cadres each but the State Government thinks the figure is inflated. Yet, leaders of these groups have been already issued identity cards. Funds have been sanctioned for construction of designated camps of these groups which have entered into Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact, Ibobi said. On being asked about when would formal talks begin with SoO signatories, the Chief Minister informed that formal talks will be initiated once identity cards are issued to the cadres and their designated camps constructed. Peace talks with the SoO signatories would be held under an understanding that the talks should be within the constitution of India and that there would be no disturbance to the territorial integrity of Manipur, Ibobi explained. Reminding that two rounds of preliminary talks have been held with the Lallumba group of KCP (MC), he said that necessary ground conditions are being made to initiate formal talk with the group. Asking about the Home Minister P Chidambaram’s instructions on extortion, the Chief Minister admitted that extortion activities in the State is too high. He claimed that the State Government has taken up several measures to check extortion. Referring to MPP’s statement that Manipur has gained freedom from white sahebs but still under black sahebs, the Chief Minister asked to corroborate the statement. He further called upon all concerned to fight collectively in a democratic manner to gain freedom from ‘black sahebs’ in case Manipur is yet to gain freedom from such people. Ibobi said that maiden session of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences will commence from August this year but construction work of the infrastructure will be completed within this month. Fuming that the engineering cell of the institute has failed to maintain proper quality in the construction works, Ibobi said that the engineering cell will be abolished after adopting a Cabinet decision to this end.

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Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing greeting Union Home Minister P Chidambaram at the Tulihal airport

Chidambaram vocal on extortion but mum on Siroy ‘drama’ By Our Staff Reporter IMPHAL, Feb 3: Union Home Minister P Chidam-baram, who arrived here in the morning amid tight security on whirl wind visit left maintaining a stoic silence on the stand off between the Assam Rifles and the NSCN (IM) though strong instructions were been given to the Chief Minister to deal with the problem of extortion in the State with an iron fist. When the Union Home Minister, who was accompanied by Joint Secretary for North East of the Union Home Ministry Navin Verma, arrived at Tulihal airport in an Indigo flight from New Delhi at around 9.30 am today, he was received by Ministers of the SPF Government, Congress president Gaikhangam, two MPs, the Chief Secretary, the DGP and other Congress workers. From the airport, the Union Home Minister directly left for the Chief Minister’s bungalow where a joint meeting was held along with the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and his Council of Ministers at the Cabinet Room. He also attended the meeting of the Unified Command (Com-bined Headquarters) chaired by the Chief Minister. During his short visit which lasted only for 3 hours, the Union Home Minister also met Governor Gurbachan Jagat at the Raj Bhavan. Interacting with media-persons at Tulihal Airport before leaving Imphal for Dimapur later during the day, the Union Home Minister maintained that extortion activities of the UGs is the biggest problem of the State and said this should be curbed. He said extortion is being served on the public, schools, colleges, hospitals, etc and the fund for development like construc-tion of roads is falling into the hands of the extortionists. While informing that he had given strong instructions to the Chief Minister and other officials concerned to come down heavily on extortions, the Union Home Minister noted that firm stand and action of the State Government is required in tackling the problem. Only then can there a good system in the State, he added. Stating that he has been thoroughly briefed on the works being taken up by the Government and that the existing conditions in the hills, foothills and plain of the State have been reviewed, the Union Home Minister informed that the State Government has placed various proposals to the Centre for assistance and assured that he would work for its implementation after he reaches Delhi. When asked what the proposals of the State Government were about, the Union Home Minister re-plied that it was about in- creasing the number of IRB battalions and deployment of more Central Paramilitary forces in the State. Maintaining that the Centre and the State Govt have definite policies on containing militancy, Chi-dambaram asserted that violence would not bring any good and the Centre and the State Government would not remain quiet in the face of violence. Commending the job of the police and the security forces, the Union Home Minister said that the number of UGs being arrested and killed by the police and other security forces should ring out a strong message to the militants. Chidambaram went on to say that the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act has been amended to recognise funding militants as a crime that warrants action in accordance to the law. When pressed for a comment on the stand off between the Assam Rifles and the NSCN (IM) at Siroy in Ukhrul district which was defused recently, the Union Home Minister simply brushed aside the query saying that it is a matter that should not be discussed with the media. According to information received by the press, apart from discussing the issue related to the recent Siroy episode, the special meeting of the United Command (Combined Headquarters) attended by the Union Home Minister himself discussed in detail the future course of action to be taken up in this regard. The meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and attended by Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), 3 Corps Commander, DGP, GOC of 57 Mountain Division, IGAR (South) and officials of BSF and CRPF among others also discussed the progress of the ongoing Suspension of Operation (SoO) signed between the Kuki underground outfits and the Government as well as the process being made to start peace talks with KCP (MC) Lallumba group, conveyed a reliable source. In the meeting, the Union Home Minister instructed all the participating officials to take up necessary measures to step up counter insurgency operations soon after the pending Lok Sabha election, the source added. Following a petition by the State Government, the Chidambaram also assured that India would get in touch with Myanmar to crack down on the camps of UGs from Manipur there. After meeting the Governor, the Union Minister left Imphal for Dimapur by a helicopter of the Indian Air Force in the afternoon. At Dimapur, the Home Minister had a meeting with the Government of Nagaland which was attended by the Chairman of the CFMC Lt Gen Mandatta, said a source and added that during the meeting the Siroy episode was discussed. While the Union Home Minister was at Imphal, stringent security measures were put in place. Even pedestrians were not allowed to walk past near the Chief Minister’s bungalow where the Union Minister attended a meeting. There was also heavy traffic snarls on many roads particularly in front of the Raj Bhavan and traffic cops had a tough time regulating the traffic flow.

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