Imphal, December 04, 2008: The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has expressed doubt on the CBI's integrity in probing into the killing of Imphal Free Press's juniour sub-editor, Konsam Rishikanta by unknown gunmen on November 17 last.

In a press statement released by the outfit's senior publicity officer Ksh Yoiheiba today, the UNLF termed the killing as a "terrible" act and a "challenge" to the people of Manipur.

The place where Rishikanta's dead body was found is a well-guarded and well-known 'encounter' spot of the state forces as well as central security forces, the statement said and questioned how could a person be gunned down in broad daylight in such a heavily policed area and how could the killers walk away unnoticed after the act.

During the 13 days period when all media establishments in the state shut down in protest against the killing, all communication channels between the people of the state broke and life came to a standstill, the statement said.

Denouncing the long silence of the Ibobi government in the matter, the UNLF charged that this itself was proof of the government's involvement in the killing.

"Following the government promise to hand over the case to the CBI, the media community has resumed work, but in view of the immense pressure that India has been under from international human rights groups including the United Nations, it is doubtful that the CBI, an agency of colonial India, will bring out the true facts and involvement of state police commandos in Rishikanta's killing," the statement said.

"This is because the killing is one that will shame India greatly in front of the whole world, particularly, the international media," it added.

"The media community has entered into a great movement against the state terrorism of the colonial forces and state police and the whole populace of this land ought to join them," the statement further exhorted.

"This is a matter of life and death for all of us," it said.