KYKL claims Deepak Gupta's killing, 'denies connection'
Source: The Sangai Express

While claiming responsibility for the gunning down of proprietor of Janta Radio Sales and Services (Thangal Bazar) Deepak Gupta the proscribed KYKL has denied police assertion that the slain Thoudem Shantikumar of Kakwa Nameirakpam Leikai was a KYKL cadre.

In a statement received late night on March 26, KYKL's deputy secretary of Publicity and Research Apabi Mangang said the Thangal Bazar businessman was shot dead on March 23 afternoon for obstinacy to KYKL's repeated intimations and warning to cough up tax which was levied to outsiders under the 'Kanglei Law'.

The outfit alleged Deepak Kumar and his father Sunder Gupta of non-compliance to its demand for paying Kanglei tax for the past three years consequently compelling gunning down of the son at his own shop.

Contending that KYKL had served last warning to the father-son electronics item traders in 2007 in addition to 'gifting' hand-grenade as reminder, Apabi maintained that capital punishment had been initiated against deepak to caution all concerned to weigh whether money is more valuable that human life.

it also affirmed that all non-local traders have to cough up KYKL's Kanglei tax without fail so as to ensure that the cruel fate that befell Deepak kumar is not replicated.

Regarding the killing of Th Shantikumar s/o (L) Th Ibochouba by a team of Imphal West district police commandos on march 24 at Tairenpokpi maning leikai, the KYKL statement expressed that high-handedness and abuse of law by the law enforcing agency was the prime factor for the untimely demise of the youth.

While denying connection of any sorts with Shantikumar and the armed group, the deputy secretary recounted local eyewitnesses of the individual being picked up and whisked away by some unidentified persons in a Maruti Zen from near the local community hall at around 11.30 am of March 24 before being shot dead in a stage-managed encounter.

Dismissing Imphal West district Sr SP L Kailun's claim that Shantikumar was a KYKL corporal inducted in the 2002 batch with Army No 21225, Apabi informed that so far KYKL's Meeyamgee Yawol Lanmee is limited to a four digit number.

Whether Shantikumar was a KYKL cadre or when he underwent training could be verified and ascertained from either the locals or immediate neighbours of the victim, he conveyed reacting to the Sr SP's assertion to Thongju MLA Bijoy Koijam to justify slaying of the kakwa youth by the commando team.

Alleging that a major chunk of the personnel of law enforcing agencies have been corrupted due to prolong exposure to the indian system, Apabi also opined that with the sole intention of accumulating wealth by any means innocent persons are being eliminated and later branded as UGs by claiming recovery of weapons.

Expressing that even if guilty the apprehendee/s deserve a fair trial rather than the police commandos taking law into their own hands, Apabi strongly cautioned that like the security personnel, particularly State forces disregarding life of innocent citizens there is no guarantee the KYKL would not start targeting family members, relatives and close acquaintances in case such slaying of innocent persons persist.

To the public, Apabi cautioned that formation of bodies (Joint Action Committees) against killing of innocent persons should not be on the line of demanding ex-gratias or job opportunities as such a trend would not only embolden security forces pull the trigger at will but the Centre would be glad to compensate death of manipuris with a price tag.