Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 30, 2009:
One of the two slain suspected undergrounds killed during reported rescue operation of two officials of the Airtel Franchise has been identified today.
However, family refused to receive the dead body saying that he was an innocent earning livelihood by pulling rickshaw.Imphal west senior SP, in a statement today claimed that the two were slain men were among kidnappers who shot death during the course of encounter erupted during the rescued operations of the two personnel of the Airtel Franchise.
The statement also charged the kidnapping as handiwork of the KCP cadres for demand of Rs 1 crore as ransom.
The one identified today was Thoudam Thoibi (24) son of Thoudam Kumar of Mayang Imphal Thana earning livelihood by pulling rickshaw, according to the family as well as locals.
He was survived by his wife and two little children.
Family said he went to show up to his parents who stay at Awang Potshangbam to engage in cultivation works on December 25 last.
On his failure to return home, they were searching for his whereabouts since the day.
Father of the deceased Kumar said on December 25 last his son came to the place at Awang Potshangbam he stay in the morning at about 10 am and went out for hiring a bullock cart to carry paddy to the house.
When he failed to back again, he was thinking that he had backed unable to get bullock cart.
He strongly denied the police charge on him of being underground and killed in encounter.
He is an innocent man and earning livelihood by pulling rickshaw, the father added.
Decrying the killing of Thoibi, locals of the Myang Imphal Thana Ani Longbi held a public meeting at the local ground today.
Rickshaw pullers of Mayang Imphal Bazar also attended the meeting.
The meeting also formed a JAC in connection with the killing.
While saying that he was an innocent and no case against him registered by the police before and was a player during his studenthood, a rickshaw rally was also carried out at Mayang Imphal today.
The JAC formed with Ch Sundari and Ch Suranjoy as chairperson and secretary respectively has decided to submit a memorandum to the chief minister with the demand for conducting judicial enquiry and punish the culprits involved in the killing.
The JAC also demanded provision of a government job to the bereaved family and payment of adequate compensation of Rs five lakhs.
The JAC who came with local MLA Kh Ratankumar to meet with the chief minister but could not get appointment.
But they decided to submit the memorandum tomorrow.
In the meantime, protest against the killing started from today in the locality from today.
On the other hand, Senior SP of Imphal west in a statement dispatched today said that Imphal west police commandos conducted rescued operation based on specific information that the kidnappers and their two hostages were staying confining somewhere in Mapao Tangkhul area jointly with troops of 39 Assam Rifles.
Additional SP Ak Jhalajit of the district, SI K Bobby of Imphal west commandos assisted by the AR troops led by captain Sandeep launched the operation.
During the operation on December 26 last the two hostages were rescued and during the ensuing encounter with the kidnappers, two were killed.
One AK-56 rifles with magazine loaded with five live rounds and one 9 mm pistol loaded with one live rounds recovered from the slain persons, it added.