Imphal, July 09 2009: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today informed the Assembly that contractor Yengkhom Krishnadas of Kakching Sumak Leikai was abducted and subsequently murdered for ransom by a gang of five persons with Th Nando, who has been lodged in jail in connection with the Lungnila Elizabeth case, as the mastermind.

The Chief Minister, who was responding to a call attention motion raised by MLA Radhabinod Koijam of NCP and MLA O Joy of MPP during the morning session of the Assembly, also informed the House that mobile jammer would be installed at Sajiwa Jail so that no communication on mobile phone can be established from inside the jail.

Moving the motion, Radhabinod demanded to know whether the police, investigating the case, has been able to find the motive behind the brutal killing as well as identify the owner of the van reportedly used in the abduction of Krishnadas or not.

He also reminded the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, that a Manipur bandh is being called over the issue today.

Questioning whether Sajiwa Central Jail has become a headquarters for criminals or not, Radhabinod urged the Chief Minister to inform the House who else are directly involved in the killing, whether TI parade had been conducted or not and the identification of the persons to whom Ashalata, who has been arrested by the police on alleged charge of collecting the ransom money, had handed over the amount.

Supporting the motion, O Joy said the murder case of Krishnadas is a challenge to the society and demanded to know whether the security personnel are involved in the case or not.

From among the SIM cards that the police had seized from Nando and other co-accused, there are some which have been used in serving extortion demands to the MLAs, Joy alleged and questioned how such activities were carried out from inside Sajiwa Jail.

There is no reason why the Jailor and the Warden should not be pulled up and punished, he added.

Joy further said that it has been heard that the ransom money, which Ashalata had collected had been handed over to one Md Islamuddin, and added that the police have arrested the brother of Md Islamuddin, identified as Majibur Rahaman, who was responsible for abandoning the body of Krishnadas.

There are talks that information was leaked out by some security personnel which enabled Islamuddin to escape even before police could conduct a raid at Yairipok, alleged the MLA and added that one outfit has also claimed responsibility for the killing.

In response to the motion, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh informed the House that the killing had been carried out by a gang of five persons including Th Nando, who is lodged in Sajiwa Jail in connection with the case of Lungnila Elizabeth.

The Chief Minister identified the others as Laishram Gunamani alias Guru alias Priyokanta, an NSA detainee; Ningthoujam Jiten alias Chaiba; L Lakpa alias Nanao alias Hotel Nao and Md Majibur Rahaman.

The motive behind the killing is purely money, the Chief Minister said, adding that the Court would decide what punishment would be given to them.

Appealing to the members of the Assembly to be patient, the Chief Minister said that the Government would like the punishment to be exemplary.

The Chief Minister, however, informed the House that Ashalata has maintained that she does not know the identity of the two persons to whom she had handed over the ransom money.

As for strengthening jail administration, the Chief Minister assured that armed police personnel would be deployed in place of unarmed staff and an order has been issued for sanctioning and supply of mobile jammer to be installed so that no communication could be established on mobile phone from within Sajiwa Jail.