A New Definition Of Barbaric Killing Invites 48 Hrs Gen Strike;
Bandh Already Enforced In Ukhrul
Kasom Khullen SDO, two subordinates found bludgeoned to death
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 17 2009: 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.

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

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 Ngamphakhui 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.