2013: Recap of some major events
Source: The Sangai Express / Athokpam Jiten

Imphal, December 31 2013 : The year 2013 had its own share of memorable as well as terrible moments.

Raj Bhavan was occupied by three different Governors and the baton of DGP was exchanged between three officers.

In many ways, 2013 proved an eye-opener for the public.

It was during this year huge consignments of drugs were seized from army and police commandos.

The same year also saw some landmark Court verdicts with regard to some rape and rape plus murder cases.

Like in the preceding years, 2013 had its fair share of bomb blasts, encounters as well as unclaimed murders.

The last day of the year witnessed the swearing in ceremony of Manipur's 14th Governor VK Duggal.

Before him, Dr Ashwani was appointed the Governor of Manipur in July this year after the retirement of his predecessor Gurbachan Jagat on July 22 .

Talking about crimes and violence, the year opened on an ominous note with the murder Max Enterprises manager Shankar Lal Swami on January 2 at Waheng Khuman Mayai Leikai, Imphal West district under Wangoi police station.

Shankar Lal was abducted from inside Kangla fort where he was going for a morning walk in the morning of January 2.In connection with the murder, four persons including two IRB personnel were arrested.

In the meantime, the baton of the State police chief was passed from Y Joykumar to MK Das and then to Shahid Ahmed.

Then came the most shocking and surprising news when Thoubal commandos seized a huge consignment of drugs with pseudoephedrine hydrochloride content worth Rs 25 crore from six smugglers led by a colonel of the Indian Army at Pallel along Imphal-Moreh road on February 24 .

After the then PIB (DW) PRO Col Ajay Choudhry and his men were arrested, another man, son of a former Minister was also pulled up together with drugs from his home in connection with the same drug trafficking case.

Another consignment of such illegal drugs containing pseudoephedrine hydrochloride whose monetary value was estimated to be Rs 3.6 crore was seized by Thoubal commandos from 11 of their colleagues at Pallel on April 28 .

Apart from the 11 commando personnel, one police officer posted at Moreh was also arrested in connection with the same case.

On the other hand, Sessions Judge, Manipur West passed a landmark verdict on June 25 by which four persons including two IRB men who were convicted for raping chilli (U-Morok) trader were sentenced for life.

The four culprits abducted the woman from Bishnupur district and raped her at Irom Meijrao, Imphal West district on March 22, 2012 .

The same Court sentenced one police personnel and a film actor to 15 years rigorous imprisonment in connection with the rape case of a TG Hr Sec School student on December 11 .

The convicts raped the student inside a restaurant located along airport road on October 20, 2012 .

One significant event of the year which was seen as a victory of human right defenders in the State was the April 4 recommendation/observation of the Justice (Retd) Santosh Hedge Commission of Enquiry on Extra Judicial Killings in Manipur which categorically stated all the four particular cases which it enquired were fake encounters.

The Commission was set up at the behest of the Supreme Court on January 4 .

The first bomb blast of the year took place near Kondong Lairembi, Moreh on January 7 and it claimed one life .

One 1/11 GR personnel was killed in an IED blast between Waikhurok and Kotlen, Bishnupur district on January 26 .

Two serial IED blasts at H Mongjang near Moreh killed one personnel of 9th Assam Rifles on March 15.Another personnel of 15th AR was killed in a bomb attack at Warokching along Chandrakhrong road on March 22 .

One 8th MR personnel was killed while 10 others including civilians sustained injuries when a civil and police team led by PWD SE Ng Manglemjao were attacked at Khudentgthabi.

Two non-local men were killed while four others escaped with injuries when a bomb exploded inside a rented room at Uripok Tourangbam Leikai on June 27 .

For the fifth time in recent years, the Chief Minister's bungalow came under bomb attack on August 10.Bomb blast inside Route 39 Restaurant, Mantripukhri on August 17 left three wounded.

Nine labourers were killed while 11 were injured when a bomb exploded near their makeshift camp over Naga Nullah on September 13 .

IED blast near Hicham-Yaicham Pat on October 30 left three civilians dead.

Two successive blasts at Pallel on November 6 killed a non-local labourers besides injuring six others.

Ten labourers of 25 BRTF escaped with injuries when they came under bomb attack at Ukhrul on November 18 .

Another bomb blast at Keishampat on November 25 left one personnel of 40th AR dead.

Troops of 39th AR killed four UNLF cadres in a gun fight at Behiang, Churachandpur on January 21 but UNLF later clarified that all the four were deserters.

Six NSCN-K cadres were killed in an encounter with troops of 10th AR on June 22 at K Songlung.

KLO/KLA home secretary Seikhohao alias Marvin (33) and daughter Hoijoukim (3) were attacked and killed by some unidentified persons on July 13 at K Champhai along Saikul road.

CISF's lady Constable Priti D Bole (22) was found shot dead in suspicious manner inside CM bungalow on November 20 .

Three cadres of KNF (N) were killed by a combined force of Thoubal commandos, 21 Para and 15th AR ay Bongbal Khullen on December 11 .

Van driver Thokchom Kiran (28) of Koirou was found murdered at Phoubakchao Konuma on March 19 .

Junior Research Fellow Dr N Satyabhama was found murdered at Bashikhong Wangkhei Loumanbi on April 5 .

Van driver Okram Gyanendro of Singjamei Okram Leikai was shot dead inside his van at Naran Konjil on August 18 .

MPP vice president Haobijam Manisana was assassinated by some unidentified persons along airport road on November 13 .

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