Breakthrough in Moreh SDPO killing
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: January 17, 2024 -

In what could be described as a significant breakthrough in the case of killing Chingtham Anand-kumar, who was posted as the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in the restive border town of Moreh when he fell victim to a sniper attack on October 31 last year, a combined team of Manipur Police Special Commandos has reportedly arrested two individuals who are among "the main suspects".

This breakthrough in the case of assassination of a top police officer while he was overseeing the work for development of a new helipad in Moreh town has been possible due to the persistent efforts of Manipur Police, particularly personnel of its Special Commando unit, who are risking their lives in sanitizing the border town, which has become a haven for anti-social elements following the outbreak of violent conflict between the Meitei/Meetei and the Kuki-Chin people on May 3 last year.

However, even though the statement issued by the Manipur Police in connection with the arrest did not mention anything about the antecedents of the arrested "main suspects" other than saying that they disclosed themselves as Philip Khaikholal Khongsai s/o (L) Marcus Khongsai of New Moreh Ward no. 8 and Hemkholal Mate s/o (L) Onkholun Mate of K Moulsang Village, revelation made in media reports that Philip Khaikholal Khongsai is a retired personnel of 14 Assam Regiment, who is currently serving not just as the president of Moreh Youth Club but also as an executive member of Kuki Inpi, Tengnoupal while Hemkholal Mate is not just the chief of K Moulsang Village and finance secretary of Mate Tribe Union (MTU) but also a former treasurer of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 42-Tengnoupal Mandal, as per posts on social media handle of the Mandal, has raised some serious questions that need to be answered by the power that be.

Considering the fact Manipur Police has underlined that "The arrested persons are among the main suspects behind the assassination of Ch Anandkumar Singh, MPS, SDPO Moreh," a thorough investigation to unearth unholy alliances that are fuelling the over eight months long conflict in Manipur is not just essential but also ought to be done.

Apart from sending shockwaves across the state, assassination of SDPO Anandkumar had elicited strong public reactions and condemnations not just against the act of snuffing out the life of a dedicated police officer in a long-range sniper attack by Kuki militants but also against the failure of the state administration to clear the road blockade imposed by a group of Kuki-Chin womenfolk to prevent movement of state forces to Moreh in time.

It was only a day after the police officer fell victim to the sniper attack of Kuki militants that Kuldiep Singh, who is the security advisor to the Chief Minister of Manipur, announced that a 6o-member strong team of state police commando had been sent to Moreh as reinforcement after clearing the road blockade carried out by a group of Kuki-Chin womenfolk along a 6o-by-24-foot-long stretch of the Imphal-Moreh road or National Highway 102 in Tengnoupal district to prevent movement of Manipur police personnel to Moreh since July 28, 2023.

At that time, the security advisor also announced that the government had identified those involved in the killing of SDPO Moreh Chingtham Anandkumar but the situation was not conducive to reveal more details as it would hinder the investigation.

But that was not enough to calm the nerves of the angry people who still feel that SDPO Anandkumar would have been alive today and discharging his duty diligently, if the security advisor was able to read the writing on the wall and did everything possible to clear the road in time for sending in more state security forces to the border town where anti-social elements are ruling the roost.

Now that two of the prime suspects in the assassination of SDPO Anandkumar have been arrested, the security advisor should see that due process of law is followed for ensuring all those involved in the crime face the music and not succumb to undue pressures for releasing them.

This is the least the security advisor could do to redeem himself from an earlier messed up job and make the breakthrough in Moreh killing truly meaningful.