Imphal, November 09 2009: In a chilling development, that could have far reaching repercussions, the escort commander of MLA V Hangkhanlian, Havildar Oinam Inaotomba of the 1st IRB, was allegedly beaten to death by 8 of his subordinates following a row over a missing SLR loaded with three magazines last night.

The deceased is from Bashikhong Kongjin.

The 8 jawans have been booked under murder charge and are in the custody of Lamphel police.

A late evening report confirmed that the 8 personnel have been placed under suspension.

In another development, late evening today, report has come in that the missing gun has been recovered.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, CO of 1st IRB T Iboyaima said that the gun was recovered from the campus of the Bn Headquarters at Churachandpur today.

The CO said that the gun was deposited at the Bn Hqs by a former escort commander, when the personnel to whom the gun was issued, had gone on leave.

It was a case of communication gap, said the CO.

According to police sources, the information of the death of the Havildar was lodged with the Lamphel police station by the Assistant Commandant of the 1st IRB, N Manglemba of Bashikhong yesterday at about 11.30 pm.

As per the report filed with the police, an SLR gun with three loaded magazines and issued to Rifleman Tungachin Paite of the escort party of the MLA was found missing about 3/4 days back.

This reportedly led to high tension amongst the escort party, numbering 11, resulting in a row that led to the death of Inaotomba last night.

Incidentally at the time of the incident, two out of the 11 escort party were on leave.

The fight that ensued last night took place at the Lamphel official quarters of MLA V Hangkhanlian.

Inaotomba was brought to Shija Hospitals last night at about 8.30, but the doctors there pronounced him dead on arrival and hence the body was taken away to be deposited at RIMS morgue.

However the body was deposited at the morgue much after 8.30 pm, said sources.

Officially it has been reported that the body was deposited at the morgue at 11 pm yesterday.

In the report submitted to the police, the Assistant Commandant of 1st IRB N Manglemba said that there were beating marks on the buttocks, face and other parts of the body of the victim.

The Assistant Commandant also verbally informed that the other 8 personnel of the escort party accused Inaotomba of being the man behind the missing SLR gun.

However no written statement to this effect was submitted to the police.

Significantly MLA V Hangkhanlian could not be contacted for his comments on the incident.

Efforts to meet him at his residence proved futile as the 'On Tour' notice was found put up at the gate of his quarters.

With Lamphel police registering the case, a formal intimation was sent to the CO of the 1st IRB, requesting that the eight escort personnel be handed over.

Accordingly, the eight were handed over to Lamphel police today and were booked under a murder case under IPC 302 .

Meanwhile speaking to the media at the Manipur Press Club, Prem Oinam, a relative of the deceased said that they have every reason to suspect a conspiracy behind the murder.

Recalling his interaction with Inaotomba some days back, Prem said, "while he was on a two day leave some days back, Inaotomba had talked something about the missing gun and he seemed disturbed.

Since he is the only man, who can be the escort commander, he had requested the Assistant Commandant of his unit to post someone, who can also be given the responsibility of the escort commander." Inaotomba went back to his duty after the guard commander, AS Marah informed him that one rifleman, Basant had applied for leave, recalled Prem.

"Till yesterday evening he was in touch with his family members," said Prem and added that till evening today, the IRB authority had not given any official report about the death of Inaotomba.

This is disgraceful, he added.

Asserting that they would not accept any charges levelled against a dead man, the family members demanded that all the guilty be booked and punished and warned that they would not take back the body until justice is delivered.

The body is still lying at RIMS morgue.

Prem Oinam further said that the family members were deeply troubled when a team led by the Assistant Commandant of the 1st IRB came to their house at about 11 last night and conducted a search for the missing gun.

Fearing the worst, they proceeded to the quarters of MLA V Hangkhanlian last night but on reaching were told that the escort party has been changed.

The guards at the gate said that they knew nothing of any incident, said the family members.

Thereafter the family members turned back and thought of proceeding to Kangla, but changed their mind and went to Lamphel PS.

At the police station, they met the Assistant Commandant of the 1st IRB, N Manglemba, they said adding that they were told of the death of Inaotomba there.

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