KLO/KLA cadre among three arrested
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 09 2022: Police have arrested three people including a cadre of the proscribed Kuki Liberation Organization/ Kuki Liberation Army (KLO/KLA) in connection with the murder of Naphai village chief Zilhem Khongsai (60) s/o (L) Thongthang Khongsai on June 6 night.

The arrested people have been identified as Thongkhohao Khongsai (37) s/o (L) Zilkhozam Khongsai, and his brothers Jamlal Khongsai (40) and Paomang Khongsai (36) of Naphai village.

Of the trio, Jamlal is a cadre of KLO/KLA, a SoO signatory.

Police recovered three licensed double barrel guns from the siblings' possession.

Briefing newspersons at Police Headquarters here on Thursday, by ADGP (Law & Order) Clay Khongsai informed that on June 6 around 11.30 pm, Naphai village chief Zilhem Khongsai was lured out of his house and shot twice by unknown assailants.

He was immediately rushed to CHC Saikul by the villagers but succumbed to injuries around 1.15 am the next day.

Saikul PS registered an FIR under Section 302/34 of IPC and Section 25 (1-C) of Arms Act and launched an investigation.

As part of the investigation, a team of Saikul PS along with mobile Forensic team of Imphal West visited the crime scene and recovered various materials.

An inquest of the dead body was conducted with post mortem examination under video coverage in the presence of executive magistrate.

The police investigation further identified three people suspected to be involved in the crime, who were later arrested from their respective residences on June 8 around 4.30 am.

On questioning, the trio confessed to shooting Naphai village chief Zilhem Khongsai dead.

While refuting the rumours on social media that Naphai village chief Zilhem Khongsai was killed for his stand against poppy plantation, the DGP stated that all three siblings are the nephews of the deceased village chief.

Zilhem Khongsai was likely murdered by the trio due to an internal family dispute, he added.

The press briefing was attended by IGP (Zone-III) Nishit Ujjwal and SP Kangpokpi Amrita Singh.

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