Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 13:
Police have arrested two persons allegedly involved in the killing of Wilhokho alias Akhole Phira, a taxi driver from Nagaland at Saiton village Hawai Loukon under Moirang police station of Bishnupur district on December 4 and recovered the missing Van.
A resident of Kigwema village under Khuzama police station of Nagaland, the whereabouts of Wilhokho had been unknown after he reportedly crossed the Khuzama check post at around 12.15 pm on November 28 until his body was recovered from Hawai Loukon of Saiton village on December 4.Bishnupur police have been investigating into the incident.
Announcing the arrest of the two accused killers to mediapersons today, SP of Bishnupur Dorjee said that there was no communal element in the killing and it was purely personal enmity.
The police officer identified the two arrested persons as Nongthombam Omor (32) s/o N Sachi, who migrated from Tripura and settled at Saiton Hayaikon and Yumnam Pradip (30) s/o Y Pakchao of Saiton.
According to the SP, following the killing of the Van driver and missing of the vehicle, Bishnupur District Police along with other police team launched massive search operation in different parts of Imphal, Thoubal and Churachandpur districts.
On receiving specific information yesterday, the police team conducted operation in Langol area and arrested Omor at around 11.30 pm.
At his instance, Pradip was arrested from Moirang area at around 8.30 am today.
As disclosed by Pradip, the missing Van (NL-01T/6727) could also be recovered from a house at Thingkanphai in Churachandpur district.
Omor, who can also speak Nagamese, has confessed that he knew Wilhoukho for a long time and brought him to Manipur to purchase blankets from Moreh.
The police officer further informed that the identity of another accused killer has also been identified but the accused is yet to be arrested.
According to press source, Omor used to operate Taxi (Van) service at Nagaland but his Van had been stolen some years back.
A report had also been lodged with the Nagaland police in this connection though the Van could not be recovered at all.
Two of his friends, both Meiteis from Nagaland have also been killed.