Imphal, April 01: To enable performance of the customary last rites of his slain son, Md Janab Ali, father of Md Ithem who was allegedly killed in the custody of founder chairman Azad of People United Liberation Front (PULF) has urged the outfit to hand over the body of his son.

Talking to mediapersons at Manipur Press Club here today, the aggrieved father informed that his son (Md Ithem , 35 years) was working in Professional Career, a private company, as its manager.

While working in the said company, Md Ithem used to have some sort of contact with founder chairman of PULF Azad in connection with supplying of goods.

On February 1/2 this year, Azad had send Md Ithem on a errand.

But as his son failed to return home for many days, the worried family members contacted Azad who informed that Ithem had gone to a place where mobile networking could not be reached and assured that Ithem would be back very soon.

However, on March 15, it was learnt from a eveninger that Ithem had been shot dead and his body buried.

Accordingly, the family tried to contact Azad in this connection repeatedly but no contact could be made.

Again on March 19, on hearing that the body of Ithem was lying buried at a place known as Kadang under Tousem sub-division of Tamenglong district, some of the family members have gone to get it back.

But some underground activists who were present there dissuaded the family members not to go there and assured that they would arrange for sending the body.

As the body was not send back, the family members went to get the body back for the second time on March 29.Yet again PULF refused to hand over the body.

Complaint lodged with the police in this regard too remain in vain, the aggrieved father said.

Md Janab Ali further said he does not know why his son had been killed and what were his faults.

Whatever might be the reason, body of Ithem should be handed over so that necessary customary last rites of the deceased person could be performed, Mad Janab Ali reasoned.

Why PULF is not complying to this ? Md Janab questioned.

What kind of revolutionary movement is that to kill their own kinsmen while in the custody ? the aggrieved father wondered.

Slain Ithem is said to a married man with four children.

A joint meeting of the people of Urup, Keirao and Kiyamgei was held and a JAC has been formed in this connection.

The JAC has also demanded the body to be handed over to the bereaved family and warned of launching mass agitation if the demand is not complied with at the earliest.

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