KSO calls State bandh
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 25:
With the establishment of the identity of the individual shot dead by Imphal East commandos at a spot behind Mahaballi Kabui village last night as a MR personnel, the KSO has called a State wide bandh from tomorrow.
The individual slain by commandos on suspicion of being a UG cadre has turned out be a Rifleman of 1st MR identified as Tongthang Haokip (40) s/o late Lunkhojang Haokip of M Songel village, Churachandpur.
He was posted as the residential guard of ex-Minister Chungkhokai Doungel.
He was earlier posted as escort of Chief Minister O Ibobi for three years.
On the other hand, a press statement issued by Imphal East SP L Kailun claimed that Tongthang Haokip and his companion were coming to collect money from PHED officials for KNA.
This was confirmed by one Laikhuram Sanatombi Singh (54), LDC holding charge of Accountant in PHED Chandel Division of Kongpal Khaidem Leikai, who was arrested earlier in the day on his way to deliver Rs 4.5 lakhs to KNA cadres along with Pukhrambam Nandakumar (53), driver in the same PHED division from Laipham Khunou.
The two PHED employees on being interrogated revealed that cadres of KNA would be coming in a motor cycle (Hero Honda Passion), black in colour and bearing number MN06S/7910 at Mahaballi area to receive the money.
The amount was in addition to Rs 3 lakhs paid to the KNA earlier in the day.
Altogether, KNA demanded Rs 20 lakhs from EE/PHED Chandel division.
Acting on the information provided by the two PHED employees, Imphal East commandos stationed themselves strategically at Mahaballi area.
At about 6.10 pm, two unidentified youths came in a motor cycle of the same description with the same registration number as told by Sanatombi.
They were immediately challenged by the commando party to halt but the pillion rider drew a small arm and fired at the police team.
In retaliatory firing the pillion rider was killed while the rider escaped by running towards the Imphal river.
One 9 mm pistol and two live rounds loaded in the magazine were recovered from the slain man, informed the SP.
The deceased person was later identified as Tongthang Haokip, a Rifleman in 1st Bn MR.Laikhuram Sanatombi confirmed that he was the same person who had taken Rs 3 lakhs earlier in the day, added the SP.
The other person who came with Tongthang and was believed to have fallen into Imphal river on firing by the commandos is identified as Thenkholun Haokip (37) s/o late Sothang Haokip of Matejang village, Churachandpur.
He is a driver in the 2nd MR.Even as commando personnel searched for his body in Imphal river up to Thumbuthong bridge last night, he could not be traced.
It is reported that Thenkholun came on his motor cycle to C Doungel's quarter to pick up Tongthang at about 6 pm yesterday.
Then the two went out together on the motor cycle.
In connection with the death of the two MR personnel, the KSO has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister this afternoon.
Through the memorandum, the KSO threatened to impose a State wide bandh tomorrow if the body of Thenkholun Haokip cannot be located by 12 O'clock tonight.
It also urged the Government to provide jobs to next of kin of the deceased, payment of salaries of the deceased jawans to their wives till the time they should retire, institution of Judicial or Magisterial enquiry into incident and termination of all commando personnel found guilty.
Meanwhile, KSO external affairs in-charge Joseph Hmar has informed that tomorrow's bandh would not cover Mera Haochongba and other fixed programmes.
The bandh is against the Government, he said.