Dr Kishan murder case Trial of Hopeson begins in New Delhi
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 31, 2011: The trial of Hopeson Ningshen in the murder of Dr Th Kishan, Kasom Khullen SDO and his two subordinate staff, Y Token and A Rajen began today in the court of Special Judge OP Saini in Patiala House, New Delhi.

SDO, Dr Th Kishan and his two subordinate staff, driver Rajen and Mandol, Token were murdered by the cadres of the NSCN (IM) under the command of the 'Lt Col' Hopeson in February 2009.Hopeson Ningshen is currently in Tihar jail where he has been kept after the NSCN(IM) handed him over to the CBI through an NGO in Dimapur in May last year.

An order passed by the Supreme Court in April 2010 has allowed the CBI, investigating the case, to conduct the trial in a court at New Delhi instead of in Manipur following a petition of the investigating agency citing security concerns in producing the prime accused, Ningshen in a court in Manipur.

In the hearing today senior public prosecutor, AK Singh appeared for the CBI while advocate Pancholi appeared on behalf of Hopeson Ningshen.

The defence counsel, in his argument, claimed that Ningshen had ordered the arrest of Late Th Kishan with "intention to collect misappropriated fund" and the news of the death of Dr Kishan and his subordinate staff had taken Hopeson aback.

He further argued that NSCN (IM) has not been declared a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act 1967.Hence his detention is unlawful.

Advocate Pancholi concluded his argument saying that because of the lack of a common intention by Ningshen on the three he could not be accused of masterminding the conspiracy of murder.

CBI counsel AP Singh put forward the argument that the NSCN (IM) does not have any right to collect "misappropriated fund" nor arrest any government servant.

The present case has been meticulously built up not on the basis of the accuser's 'so called retracted confession' but on the 'circumstantial evidence and witnesses' account'.

He further asserted that the charge of 'misappropriation of fund' against Late Dr Kishan has been conclusively proved false by the statements given by witnesses.

The judge pointed out that a copy of the charge-sheet was made available to the accused well before the commencement of trial.

However, submission as narrated by the learned counsel has not be made available to the court as documents at anytime earlier.

Replying to the observation of the judge, the defence counsel prayed for forgiveness for the lapse.

After hearing arguments of both sides, the judge postponed the hearing till February 21, 2011 announcing that the hearing will be conducted in the same court.

Mention may be made that the CBI had accused four persons including Ningshen of involving in the murder.

However, the other three, Yuhar alias Abo Chibo of Chuinem or Tainem village under Somtal Police Station of Ukhrul district, SK Them Horshang alias Themshang of Apong village under Kamjong police station of the same district and one Johni whose resident is yet to know are still at large.

The JAC formed in connection with the murder today demanded the authority concerned to arrest the three others accused who are still absconding, at the earliest so as to avoid any loop-holes in the case, in a statement signed by its chairman S Tikendrajit dispatched to the media houses.

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