Imphal, December 07 2008: CHIEF MINISTER, O Ibobi will leave for New Delhi tomorrow to press the CBI on taking over the case of assassination of Imphal Free Press junior sub-editor, Rishikanta even as MLA I Ibohal today as alleged that he was killed by the personnel of the police commandos.

Ibobi who is leaving Imphal for the national capital for his official business is planning to have audience with the new Union home minister Pranab Mukherjee for insisting CBI which state government has decided to handover the case to investigation agency.

After a Cabinet meeting under the chair of the chief minister decided to handover the case of assassination to CBI, state home department has issued ordered CBI probe into the case last week.

But CBI is still taking over the case.

A highly reliable source said that as CBI is not yet responding to the government appraisal Chief Minister during his trip to the national capital to attend a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office will talk to the concern Union minister to press the CBI at the ministerial level.

In the meantime, MLA, I Ibohalbi of MPP today has said that chief minister, O Ibobi knew that Rishikanta was killed by the personnel of the police commandos.

So he remained silent without saying any words even though the scribes in the state protested with cease-work strike for 12 days, he said.

The MLA was speaking at a Koran Tilwat function held at Kwakta Public Ground in connection with in remembrance of first chief minister after Manipur got statehood status, Md Alimuddin who elected as MLA from Moirang A/C in state Assembly.

The function was attended Dr L Chandramani, president MPP as chief guest.

Many MLAs and leaders of the MPP including MPP candidate chosen for the by-election in Moirang A/C H Bira and other civil organizations attended the function which marked by offering of floral tributes to the photograph of the late former chief minister of the state.

Speaking on the assassination of Rishikanta on the evening of November 17 at Langol, Ibohalbi said that chief minister knowing that if CBI investigated into the case, the truth will be come out, had started blaming the police commandos for their excessive.

He also expressed that due to coming up many rich people who never in politic before as candidate in the Assembly election, the present situation of spate of killing of people in the trouble prone state become.

Th Choaba who also talked on the occasion recalled the life of former chief minister and said that Md Alimuddin's government installed in 1977 was dethroned by the Congress one and a half year later.