Imphal, January 07: James Kuki alias Letsei Haokip alias Singboi, who was named as the king pin in the kidnapping and murder of Lungnila Elizabeth by another accused, N Rome while he was in the custody of the UNLF has fled from his Langol quarters along with his wife and children.

James Kuki is originally from Matiyang village.

James was staying at Langol Housing complex in quarter number G-3, type-III.

The quarter was allotted to one Lakhokam a Constable in the State Police Department and James stayed there on rent.

James has three wives.

The first wife is a Tangkhul woman and has two children while the second wife is a Kabui woman from Langol Laimanai.

The third wife is also a Tangkhul from Tousem village.

The second and third wives are issueless.

The main accused is also reported to be having an affair with another woman.

Sources said that James was seen regularly gambling at quarter number 52, type-III with crisp five hundred rupee notes.

Local people saw him at his Langol quarter till evening yesterday.

However the people of the locality saw his quarter under lock today at about 7.30 am today.

Sources said that James along with his wife and children took a bus and left Imphal from North AOC today itself.

The bus took the route along NH-39.Enraged local people gathered and tried to set the quarter where James stayed on fire but police arrived and managed to control the situation.

Police broke into the quarter and confiscated all the belongings inside the house.

The seized goods are presently kept at Lamphel police station.

As reports filtered in that the fugitive may have taken a Network travels bus, an alert was sounded along NH-39 and police stations at Sekmai, Sapermeina, Kangpokpi, Senapati and Mao have been alerted and instructed to check all the passenger buses today.

A police team also left Imphal and proceeded along NH-39 with the photo of the main accused.

Police said that James alighted from the bus somewhere on the way along NH-39.In another development sources said that another of the accused identified as Papao of Matai village in Churachandpur may have also stayed at a type-II quarter at the Langol housing complex.

Local people suspect that he may have also fled.

Meanwhile following the confession of N Rome that he was involved in the killing and kidnapping of Elizabeth, enraged meira paibis and local club members gathered and set his house on fire at Bashikhong Mamang Leikai today morning.

The house of another suspect, named by Rome as being involved in the case, Nameirakpam Inaobi, of the same locality was also set on fire.

As news of the reported involvement of the two accused spread like wild fire after all the State dailies carried the news along with the photographs of Rome, enraged meira paibis and members of local clubs gathered and set the houses of the two accused on fire.

Police and Fire Brigade personnel arrived at the scene and tried to disperse the enraged local people.

The security personnel had to even open blank fire and fire tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.

However the house of Rome was set ablaze at about 9 am while the crowd set the house of Inaobi on fire at 10 am.

Timely action by the Fire Brigade and the police personnel stopped the fire from causing extensive damages.

Meanwhile it is learnt at N Inaobi, who is currently undergoing a refresher course as an MR personnel at the police training school at Pangei was picked up by a team of Imphal East police.

Interrogation is on.

On the other hand the Pradhan of the Phumlou Gram Panchayat and representatives of numerous meira paibi lups and clubs have stated that Udoi, one of the accused named by the UNLF, is not a resident of either Phumlou ward 1, 2 and 3.In a signed statement, the Pradhan and club and meira paibi representatives said that there is no one by the name of Udoi in their locality and urged all concerned to furnish the surname and name of the father of the accused.

A meeting was held in this connection today morning with the Pradhan in the chair.

The local people agreed that if there is anyone in their area involved in the killing of Elizabeth then fitting action would be taken up.

Any one found guilty will be expelled, it said.

The All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur has hailed the efforts of the UNLF in cracking the case and said that now the State machinery should put its best effort forward and try to nab all the culprits named.

In a statement ATSUM said that the Government should book all the killers by January 8 adding that an emergency meeting of the student body has been convened on Jan 10 at Imphal to discuss further course of action.

The student body also lamented that till date the Govt has failed to identify and arrest the killers of van driver Haobam Ibomcha as well as the kidnappers of master Tongoulien son of Lalboi Lhungdim of CCpur.