Imphal, February 28 2009: Asserting that there is a complete lack of coherence and consistency with regard to the murder case of Dr Th Kishan, Y Token and A Rajen, the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (South) has questioned the role of the State which has been allegedly shirking its responsibility to the civil society and the public.

In a press release, the NPMHR (S), quoting news reports, noted that the Works Minister should be fully aware of the missing/absence of Kasom Khullen SDO during his visit to the sub-divisional headquarters on February 14. Questioning the silence of the Works Minister regarding the absence of the SDO at such a critical juncture, the NPMHR also questioned the inaction of the Chief Minister during the intervening period before the SDO and his two staff were found brutally murdered on February 17.The SDO and his two staff and three others were abducted on February 13. Again quoting news reports that the wife of the late SDO had approached an MLA regarding the abduction of her husband, the NPMHR asked the Chief Minister if he would deny having any knowledge about the abduction.

"If the CM states that he was no aware of the incident, then he has a moral obligation to explain why, as the head of the State, he has failed to perform his duty.

Or was the entire episode premeditated by the Chief Minister and his Works Minister?, the NPMHR asked.

Maintaining that justice and rule of law should prevail at any cost, the human rights body cautioned that the primary objective of seeking justice for the killing of the SDO and his two staff should not be diverted and politicised by any individual and groups to get political mileage or to victimise any community.

The "innocent victims" incriminated in the case relating to the incident should not be persecuted in any way and the State Government is obligated to ensure and guarantee the same, it asserted.

The State Government, particularly the Home Minister should own responsibility for the failure to protect the citizens and also for continuing to betray this obligation.

Seriously questioning the sincerity of the Government of Manipur in bringing fair and appropriate justice for all, the NPMHR appealed to the people of Manipur to maintain harmony and refrain from taking any steps that will jeopardise peaceful co-existence of different communities.

While reiterating its condemnation over the inhuman murder of the SDO and his two staff, the human rights body also expressed deepest grief over the triple murder.

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