Imphal, November 09 2009: In a bizarre incident of crime, the escort commander of MLA of Thanlon Assemby Constituency, V Hangkhalian, was brutally beaten to death by his fellow IRB personnel at about 7.30 pm last night.

Police arrested eight IRB personnel allegedly involved in the crime and placed them all under suspension this evening.

The deceased escort commander has been identified as one Oinam Inaotomba (46), son of Late O Toyai of Bashikhong Mamang Leikai.

He was a havildar of 1st IRB.

Police said, one Self Loading Rifle (SLR) loaded with 15 live rounds in a magazine allotted to a personnel among the security escorts named Tungaichin Paite had been missing since a few days back at the MLA's quarter located at Lamphel.

However, no report of the missing weapon was filed with any superior officer of the battalion.

Police further said, escort commander Inaotomba had handed over charge of commander to his junior Havildar AS Marhas Tangkhul and taken out pass leave for two days to go home.

On the second day of his leave, Inaotomba was called back at the MLA's quarter as a rifleman named Kh Basanta had to go home.

When he arrived at the quarter, eight of his fellow servicemen accused him of stealing the SLR and assaulted him.

He was severely beaten up, and he lost consciousness.

He was rushed to Shija Hosptials at Langol at about 8 pm last night, but doctors declared him brought dead.

Then the IRB personnel took the body back in a Gypsy.

After a few hours, one of the personnel informed the CO of 1st IRB, Sanasam Iboyaima that the escort commander has been beaten to death by the other personnel.

Asst Commandant of the battalion, Nameirakpam Manglem came to the quarter around 11 pm and took stock of the situation.

He then reported the incident to Lamphel Police Station.

CO Iboyaima told the Hueiyen Lanpao this evening that eight personnel of the battalion involved in the assault on the escort commander resulting in his death have been handed over to the police at 3.30 pm today.

All eight of them are in police custody now, and they have been placed under suspension with effect from this evening.

The arrested and suspended personnel are Havildar AS Marhas Tangkhul, rifleman Longshang Sothing, rifleman D Nicolson Maring, rifleman Tungzathing Paite, rifleman Guru Milun, rifleman Kh Basanta, rifleman R Dominic and rifleman Thongpao.

In the meanwhile, the family members came to the RIMS morgue and went back without taking the lifeless body of Inaotomba asserting that it will not be taken until appropriate actions are taken against those personnel who killed him.

Residents of the locality of Inaotomba, Bashikhong this evening rose in protest against the killing this evening and resolved to demand appropriate action against the alleged killers.

Inaotomba is survived by his wife and children.

Other personnel of the battalion said that Inaotomba was a man of integrity.

He would have never taken the weapon.