9 days remand for prime accused in murder of Moreh SDPO
Total curfew clamped in Moreh town
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 16 2024: Two persons including an ex-Army personnel who is suspected to have killed SDPO Chingtham Anandkumar in Moreh have been remanded to police custody for 9 nine days.

The two identified as ex-Army man Philip Khaikholal Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate, chief of K Moulsang village were arrested by a combined team of Special Commando, IRB and MR personnel yesterday from ADC Moreh Complex.

They were remanded to police custody by the Duty Magistrate Tengnoupal today via video conference.

Chingtham Anandkumar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Moreh was hit by a sniper bullet and killed on October 31, 2023 while he was overseeing the construction of a helipad at Eastern Shine School Ground, Moreh.

9 days remand for prime accused in murder of Moreh SDPO

Philip Khaikholal Khongsai, who is suspected to have pulled the trigger of the sniper, was a personnel of the 14th Assam Regiment and joined service in 1999.He retired from active service in 2018 .

Philip Khaikholal is president of Moreh Youth Club and an executive member of Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal.

He is also the leader of Moreh Defence Force, Tengnoupal district.

On the other hand, Hemkholal Mate is the chief of K Moulsang Village and in charge of finance of Mate Tribe Union.

The duo were produced before the Duty Magistrate Tengnoupal via video conference today along with a prayer for 10 days police custody remand for further investigation of the SDPO's assassination case.

The Court, after hearing the submissions of the Investigating Officer of the case and on perusal of material on record, remanded the two accused persons to 9 days police custody till January 24 .

SDPO Chingtham Anandkumar was the first high ranking police officer killed in Moreh amid the current conflict between Meiteis and Kukis involving armed militants under SoO.

More than 15 State security forces personnel have been hurt in several ambushes carried out by Kuki militants and Kuki village volunteers in Moreh since October, 2023 .

On the other hand and in view of the highly volatile situation which has gripped Moreh following the arrest of the prime suspect in the killing of SDPO Moreh Chingtham Anandkumar along with another militant with arms and ammunition yesterday, the Tengnoupal District Magistrate has imposed total curfew in Moreh town under Section 144, CrPC.

Soon after the arrest, a large, unruly mob staged a protest demonstration at Moreh town and attacked Moreh police station and the Commando complex by pelting stones and other hard objects, demanding unconditional release of the arrested militants.

In order to control the situation, security personnel fired tear gas shells and mock bombs till late night yesterday.

On the other hand, a press release issued by the Police Control Room said that during a routine patrolling near Moreh College, security personnel observed two suspected individuals who opened fire on vehicles of security personnel and ran into a row of houses at around 4.30 pm yesterday.

On being fired upon, the security forces immediately retaliated and cordoned off the suspected houses near Moreh College and launched a search operation.

During the operation, the two suspicious individuals were chased and overpowered using minimum force and were detained for verification.

On spot verification, 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.

The arrested persons are among the main suspects behind the assassination of Chingtham Anandkumar Singh, MPS, SDPO, Moreh, A case has been registered against them for further investigation, said the press release.

Meanwhile, it has turned out that Hemkholal Mate, chief of K Moulsang village and finance secretary of Mate Tribe Union (MTU), is also the treasurer of BJP Tengnoupal Mandal.

However, subsequent upon his arrest in connection with the killing of SDPO Chingtham Anandkumar, BJP Manipur Pradesh has expelled Hemkholal Mate from the party.

A team of Moreh police and commando personnel were inspecting construction of a helipad at Eastern Shine School ground, Moreh when Kuki terrorists shot the SDPO with a sniper rifle at around 9.30 am on October 31 last year from the direction of Chavangphai and Canan Veng.

The bullet hit SDPO Chingtham Anandkumar on the abdomen and exited through the back and he was evacuated to Primary Health Centre, Moreh but succumbed to the injury at around 10 am same day.