AR man killed, IRB camp picketed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 04: A Naik Subedar of 4 Assam Rifles was killed by some unidentified persons including a personnel of 4th IRB currently under suspension by choking him under water near Koirengei Forest Gate under Heingang police station at about 10 last night.

The deceased AR man posted at Mantripukhri is identified as Thokchom Sanayaima (40) s/o Selung of Koirengei Thongkhong, Nillakuthi Lamkhai.

Women protest the murder of an AR man at the IRB camp

He left behind his wife and a 10 year old daughter.

On his way back home yesterday, Sanayaima was stopped by some persons who were in inebriated conditions in front of Koirengei Forest Gate.

The unidentified persons asked Sanayaima to take them to their homes in his car (MN 0A3604).Soon after, people in the nearby area heard them arguing in loud voices.

Some people who knew the voice of Sanayaima conveyed the incident to his family.

However, a few minutes later, as the Meira Paibis of Koirengei went to look into the car parked in front of the Forest Gate there, they found a heavily drunk man with his face slumped on the steering wheel.

When he was asked about the incident, he reportedly said that the matter could be understood only after setting ablaze the car.

Even though he could speak, he could not move and stayed still in his position.

After searching for about two hours, the local people found Sanayaima in a pond located near the Forest Gate at about 12 pm.

He was immediately rushed to Catholic Medical Centre, but the doctor pronounced him dead there.

The drunkard found inside the car was pulled up by the people and handed over to police.

He is a personnel of 4th IRB posted at Thenguching and identified as Hidangmayum Tolbapu (22) s/o Lalkanhai of Nambol Makha Leikai.

It is reported that Tolbapu was confined in quarter guard from November 21 to December 1 for misbehaving in inebriated condition.

For similar misbehaviour, Tolbapu was put under suspension since December 3.At about 8 pm yesterday, he ran away in secret from the IRB post at Thenguching.

While assuring that any 4th IRB personnel involved in the killing will be punished in a fitting manner, CO Kundo maintained that according to his knowledge other than Tolbapu no personnel ventured out of the camp last night.

On the other hand, enraged with the killing, Meira Paibis of Koirengei brought the corpse of Sanayaima at the gate of Thenguching IRB post at about 6 am today.

Later Heingang police picked up the corpse and deposited at RIMS mortuary.

Since midnight yesterday, a large number of Meira Paibis from Koirengei and 14 surrounding villages picketed at the gate of the IRB camp.

Moreover the Nillakuthi road was also blocked.

In connection with the case, Heingang police have picked up Chanamthabam Tondon (22) of Koirengei for interrogation.

The corpse of Sanayaima is still lying unclaimed at RIMS morgue.

Meanwhile, a public meeting for the local clubs and Meira Paibis of 15 villages of Koirengei and surrounding area was held today at the ground of Awang Keikon Youth Development Club.

During the meeting, the JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Thokchom Sanayaima Singh Koirengei was constituted with office designated at Koirengei Primary School, informed a release.

The meeting resolved to demand termination of the IRB personnel involved in the killing and also to award them exemplary punishment.

Other resolutions of the meeting included removing the 4th IRB post from the duck farm area and extension of commensurate ex-gratia to the family of the victim.

The meeting also resolved not to claim the corpse of Sanayaima until all the accused are booked under law.