Imphal, December 12 2008: INVOLVEMENT OF underground elements in the murder of K Rishikanta, a junior sub-editor of the Imphal Free Press, cannot be ruled out, according to Manipur DGP, Y Joykumar.

In a rejoinder to the allegations made by Chief Project Officer-cum-Secretary, Information and Public Relations Department of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Ibungo Ngangom that Manipur police commandos were involved in the murder of the journalist on November 17, the DGP stated in a press release today that the police department was looking at every possible angle about this case including the possibility of culprits being police personnel.

However, the involvement of underground elements in the background of the murder of Rishikanta cannot be ruled out, added the DGP stating that the late Rishikanta had a close nexus with some one who claimed himself to be a finance-in-charge of the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) of the Imphal West district.

According to reports, the KCP (I Ng) in a press note on Thursday stated that the outfit's special unit of Crime Prevention and Detection Bureau (CPDB) had said that the late Rishikanta was picked from Wahengbam Leikai Lairembi Lampak between 11:00 and 11:30 am by four men in civvies on November 17.The outfit also stated that Rishikanta had received a lot of calls from a singe number who probably was the killer.

It is also worth noting here that the KCP on December 2 reportedly also stated that the CPDB had completed the first round of investigation into the murder of the late Rishikanta and suspected the involvement of state forces.

Further clarifying on these allegations, DGP Joykumar stated that on November 17, the day late Rishikanta was found murder, the victim received 14 (fourteen) calls from one mobile phone no.9862207924 which according to police records had been issued in the name of one Mr Imkom Suwa Longs of Eastern Coaching Centre, River Belt Colony near Don Bosco School, Dimapur in Nagaland.

But the user was one Thoithoiba who claims to be Finance-in-charge of KYKL for Imphal West district, added the DGP.

The DGP also informed that from the period of November 6-17, there were 223 incoming calls to Rishikanta's cell phone 9856969427 from the same number besides 77 outgoing calls from Rishikanta to the same number including 96 SMSs between the two.

Meanwhile, referring further on the allegations of the KCP that Rishikanta was picked by the police commandos between 11 and 11:30 am on the day, the DGP said that if that was the case then Rishikanta still received the calls from 9862207924 even after he was abducted.

If this be the case, the DGP maintained, Rishikanta must have conveyed the person about his abduction and questioned by the person was still silent about the case of Rishikanta.

In this regards, DGP Joykumar alleged that the involvement of the underground outfits could not be ruled out, for one reason that Rishikanta had close nexus with the KYKL prior to his murder, stated the DGP.

The DGP also alleged that even the KCP (MC) had openly threatened in the recent past to kill cadres and sympathizers of KYKL and UNLF organisations.

The DGP also called upon the people not to be misled by the claims of the militant outfits of the involvement of state forces in the murder of the late Rishikanta.