UFO member lynched by fellow members
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 26 2014:
A member of United Friendship Organization (UFO), formerly known as SATJAL, was lynched by his fellow members on charges of stealing a bronze statue of Anji placed atop Heikrak Mapal Natum Ching under Sagolmang Police Station in Imphal East today.
The deceased UFO member has been identified as Huirem Naba (44), s/o (late) Huirem Jilla of Nongjum Mayai Leikai.
He joined the UFO some 10 years back.
According to sources, a bronze statue of Pakhangba known as "Anji" installed at the Battalion Campus of UFO located at Natom Ching was found missing yesterday evening.
All members present at the campus made a thorough search and finally traced the missing statue near a hand-pump along the roadside.
As investigation was being made to find out the statue lifter, some members named the deceased Naba as the culprit.
A six-member team of the UFO then pulled up Naba from his house and brought to the Battalion Campus at around 7.30 am today.
Some family members of the deceased also followed the UFO members up to their campus.
As soon as Naba was brought to the Battalion Campus, a group of UFO members put him inside a sack and began to beat him by pouring water.
Naba lost consciousness after sometime.
His family members took him to Sagolmang Community Health Centre.
However, he died at around 10.30 am before reaching a hospital.
As soon as the news of Naba's death was spread, an angry mob ransacked the houses of some UFO members, who had abducted Naba from his house in the morning.
The alleged abductors were Thingujam Iboyaima (50), his younger brother Bishwarup (45) and Yengkhom Jiten (42).All of them are of Heikrak Mapan Makha Leikai.
Leader of the UFO Battalion Sagolsem Rajmani (80) of Keibi Makha Leikai and N Sova (42) of Lousangkhong Mayai Leikai were also reportedly involved in the incident.
So far, the police have arrested Thingujam Bishwarup and Sagolsem Rajmani in connection with the murder.