Murder case of Dr Kishan, Token and Rajen : Nearly five years down the line and justice at threshhold ?
CBI Court to deliver verdict on January 18
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 13 2014 : Nearly five years down the line and the Patiala House Court, New Delhi (CBI Court) is set to deliver its final verdict in the murder case of Dr Kishan, Token and Rajen on January 18 .

This was informed to reporters by the Convenor of the JAC constituted against the incident, Y Kapu during a press conference held at Mapari Ningshingkol, Uripok today.

The then SDO of Kasom Khullen in Ukhrul district Dr Kishan, an MCS officer of the 2007 batch and his two subordinate staff, Token, a Mandal and Rajen, a driver, were abducted by NSCN (IM) cadres on February 13, 2009 and were later found hacked to death at Taphou Kuki village located about 7 kms to the south of Senapati district headquarters along National Highway-2 (Imphal-Dimapur road) on February 17, 2009 .

File pic of a protest rally to denounce the brutal killings of Dr Kishan, Token and Rajen

The triple killings had sent shock waves across the State, for its sheer brutality and a JAC was formed to pile on the pressure on the Government and take the case to its logical conclusion.

The CBI registered a case in connection with the triple murder after the case was handed over to them on January 31, 2010 and self styled Lt Colonel of the NSCN (IM) Hopeson Ningshen was named the prime suspect and subsequently pulled up.

The NSCN (IM) had at that point of time washed its hands off the case, saying that it was an individual act and termed Ningshen a black sheep of the outfit.

The final hearing and argument of the case wound up recently in the Special CBI Court after a three-year long trial.

CBI has been investigating the case under Case No RC 223(S)/2009 IPS after the matter was handed over to them on January 31, 2010, he added.

With the completion of the trial and arguments which lasted around three years, final verdict against the accused Lt Col Hopeson Ningshen of NSCN (IM) would be announced on January 18, he said.

Saying that Hopson Ningshen is currently lodged in Tihar Jail, he expressed hope that the accused would get befitting punishment for the crime he had committed.

Altogether six persons, including the late Dr Kishan were abducted from near the gate of Ukhrul district headquarters, but the other three, Ramthing, Ramshing and Ngamphakui Zimik were released unharmed.

Taking a very serious note of the brutal killings, the State Government had convened an emergency Cabinet meeting on February 17, 2009 itself and apart from deciding to provide Government jobs to the next of kins of the deceased had also announced ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakhs to the family members of Dr Th Kishan and Rs 5 lakhs each to his two subordinate staff.

Terming the killing as a terrorist act, the JAC in a press statement said it has convened a public meeting on January 15 at Mapari Ningshingkol, Uripok Machin to take a firm decision ahead of the pronouncement of the judgment.

It appealed to all senior citizens, activists, academicians, legal professionals, civil societies, administrators, student bodies, club organizations, and press/media to attend the meeting.