Finally IM admits : Three suspects in our custody
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 30: The NSCN (IM) has finally admitted that three persons suspected to be involved in the kidnapping and gruesome murder of school boys, Hriini Hubert and Muheni Martin are in their custody.

On being contacted by The Sangai Express, deputy kilonser of the Ministry of Information and Publicity of the outfit, Kraibo Chawang said that the three persons in their custody are Monikho, Brown Tangkhul and Adai.

"They have partially confessed" (of the their involvement in the issue), said Chawang and added that fitting punishment would be given to anyone found guilty of the macabre crime.

To a question on when the findings of the Committee set up by the outfit under a Kilonser some time back may be furnished, Chawang did not give any time frame but said that the NSCN (IM) is keen on finishing the investigation in good time.

The deputy kilonser further said that public leaders have got in touch with the outfit in connection with the case.

An informed source informed The Sangai Express that some public representatives have established contacts with the NSCN (IM) to hand over the suspects in their custody to the people.

Students and faculty of Camps' English Academy, Khabam Lamkhai protest the killing of Hriini and Muheni

As announced earlier, the Core Committee is gearing up to launch a series of intense agitation if the Government fails to nab the culprits and give them fitting punishment within the given time frame which is 10 days.

Chairman of the Core Committee, Solomon Vieno said, "We will wait for the 10 days time given by the Government and if it fails to meet the deadline then we have no alternative but to launch intense agitation." There is no meaning in having a Government if it is not in a position to crack the case and secure the arrest of the culprits, he asserted.

The matter was brought before the notice of the Government since the two kids were kidnapped, added Solomon.

Meanwhile as assured by the State Government, the police have started an inquiry to get to the bottom of the kidnapping and later murder of Hriini Hubert and Muheni Martin.

Despite the assurance given by the Government yesterday, the mortal remains of the two school boys are still at the Senapati police station and their last rites may be performed tomorrow.

Six MLAs, on behalf of the State Government had yesterday assured the Core Committee and other NGOs of Senapati that a probe would be initiated to book the culprits.

"We have begun our investigation and the Investigating Officer (SDPO, Senapati police) is working over time to crack the case.

We will put in our best effort to unmask and book the culprits," said the SP of Senapati, Nishit Ujwal when contacted by The Sangai Express today.

Since some suspects are in the custody of the NSCN (IM), this may prove to be a major hurdle in the investigation, said police sources.

The SP however said that the police is ready to swing into action when any clue is found pertaining to any suspects in the case.

With many social organisations condemning the dastardly murder of the two boys, normal life at Ukhrul came to a grinding halt today in response to the bandh call given to protest the killing.

Business establishments at the district headquarters remained closed for the day.

Passenger buses stayed off the road.

The bandh however did not affect the HSLC and HSSLC examinations.

SP of Ukhrul Lhari Dorjee Lhoto said that no untoward incident took place during the bandh.

On the other hand responding to the call of AMSU, students of various schools and colleges staged sit-in-protest demonstrations in front of their respective school gates to protest the killing of the two school boys.

Students of class III in Don Bosco School, Maram, Senapati, the skeletal remains of Martin and Hubert were recovered from near Viewland colony of Senapati district on March 27 after 104 days of being kidnapped for ransom.

In condemnation of the gruesome act, students of Khurai Girls' Higher Secondary School, Blooming Academy, Khurai; Khurai Popular High School; SS Residential High School, Chingmeirong; Don Bosco Chingmeirong; Camps English Academy, Khabam Lamkhai; Manipur Public School, Koirengei; Heritage Convent, Uripok; JIM Higher Secondary School; Mem Higher Secondary School; Havard Higher Secondary; Diviner English School; Little Rose, Canchipur; Stratford English School, MU Gate; Bishnupur Public School; Modern Higher Secondary, Bishnupur; PG English School, Bishnupur and St Mark School.

Students of DM College and GP Women College also staged similar demonstration and shouted slogans demanding the arrest of the killers.

Various social organisations and individuals have also come out strongly against the killing of the two innocent children.

The Archbishop Most Rev Dominic Lumon, the Fathers, Sisters and the Catholic Faithful of the Archdiocese of Imphal has expressed shocked as well as sorrow over the cruel killing of two Catholic Children Hrinii Hubert and Moheni Martin, both students of Don Bosco School, Senapati at the hands of their abductors.

Besides condemning the dastardly crime, we offer our heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family and their well wishers, Chancellor of Archdiocese of Imphal Fr L Jayaseelan said in a statement.

We also prayer that the culprits be brought to justice and may God accompany the grieving parents at this hour of great pain and sorrow, the statement added.

Condemning the gruesome murder of the two young students, ACTSOM has also castigated the State Govt for its alleged failure to book the culprits.

All Manipur Women's Samaj Reformation and Development, Meira Paibi Welfare Association (Kangleipak), United Manipur Muslim Women Development Organisation, Leipak Kanba Ahallup, Dharma Raksha Samiti, Young Paite Association (Imphal Block), etc have also condemned the killing.

Nationalist Congress Party, Manipur Pradesh; Bharatiya Janata Party, Tamenglong District Committee and Manipur People's Party Youth Front, etc were also among the political parties and units which have strongly decried the killing of the two innocent children.

The Hmar Women Association, General Headquarters has also mourned the death of Hrinii Hubert and Muhini Martin whose skeletal remains were recovered on the 27th March 2007 at a hillock in Senapati.

In a statement the association said that they are shocked to hear the ghastly murder and demanded that the culprits responsible for the kidnapping and subsequent killing should be bring to book.

The Zomi Students' Federation said it is shell shocked at the beastly murder of Hrinii Hubert and Muheni Martin and express its endorsement of the demand for ex-gratia payment to their family with words of wonder that reads 'what were the Govt and security forces doing all this time'.

Joining the outcry against the gruesome murder of the two Senapati Don Bosco School kids�� Hrinii Hubert and Muheni Martin, the District Private School Association, Tamenglong has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister urging to book the culprits.

It further demanded that the innocent school going children be given proper security and protection during school hours and before they reach home.