Imphal, February 22 2009: Keeping in line with its pledges that nothing will be left to chance to expose the people behind the brutal murder of the SDO of Kasom Khullen and his two subordinate staff, the NSCN (IM) has rounded up three suspects.

Disclosing this while speaking to The Sangai Express today evening, a spokesman of the Law and Order Department of the Wung Tangkhul Region said that three persons have been taken into custody in connection with the abduction and later brutal murder of the SDO, Dr Th Kisan, his driver Aribam Rajen and Mandal, Y Token.

The three have been identified as Lt Col Hopeson Tangkhul, Apho Sibo and Major Ashang.

Newmai News Network has reported that the armed wing of the NSCN-IM has admitted that one of its 'commanding officers' (CO) was behind the brutal and inhuman killing of Kasom Khullen SDO and his two subordinates.

Informing this today, Naga Army', the armed wing of the NSCN-IM said that 'commanding officer' (CO) Lt Col H Ningshen was the masternind in the killing of Dr Th Kishan and his two subordinates.

In a statement, the armed wing of the NSCN-IM said, In what can be termed as the most shocking revelation, one of our senior officers has turned out to be the black sheep of the family.

To our utter disappointment, it has been established that the Commanding Officer of Kiusumong Battalion (Siroy), Lt Col H Ningshen was the brain behind the brutal killing of the Kasom Khullen SDO and his two aides.

What prompted him to undertake such severe measure against the civil servants of Manipur Government cannot justify the inhuman action metted out under his command, said the Naga Army of the NSCN-IM tonight.

The NSCN-IM's official statement in this regard will be issued on Monday, according to the outfit's Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP).

Sources in the NSCN-IM said that on Monday the outfit will decide what step should be taken against 'Lt Col' H Ningshen.

The NSCN-IM's 'home minister' has already said that whoever big or small, in the event of the outfit's personnel involved in the brutal and inhuman murder of the SDO and his two staffs would not be spared but awarded the 'severest' form of punishment.

Another source informed The Sangai Express that Apho Sibo a Town Commander while Hopeson Tangkhul was the commander of the Siroy camp which was recently evicted.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, the spokesman of the Law and Order Department of the Wung Tangkhul Region said that the GPRN did not issue any order to kill the SDO and his two men.

The three were acting on their own individual capacity, said the spokesman and added that the killing was the machinations of gangsters.

They do not represent the GPRN in any position, asserted the spokesman and maintained that investigation is on to round up all those involved in the heinous crime.

Details of the case will be issued within three days time, asserted the spokesman.

On the other hand an independent source informed The Sangai Express that there may be more people involved in the abduction and killing of the SDO and his two subordinates.

The others may include helpers, including a woman who did the cooking and other odd jobs, said the source.

It is however not clear whether the woman is a hard core member or not.

Meanwhile a high ranking police official has informed The Sangai Express that the three employees who were 'rescued' from Tolloi area in the wee hours of yesterday are in the custody of the IG AR (South).

They are yet to be handed over to the police.

The SDO and five other men were abducted on February 13 from near the office complex of the Ukhrul DC and the bludgeoned bodies of the SDO and his two subordinates were found near Lukhrabi bridge at Kuki Taphou village in Senapati district on February 17. Following the huge public outcry against the gruesome killings, the NSCN (IM) had also condemned the killing in the severest term and announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter.

As recently as yesterday, the NSCN (IM) had proclaimed that in the event of any Naga Army personnel found to be involved, 'Naga Army' will not fail to give punishment to the perpetrators befitting the crime as per the Army rules.

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