Investigation into kidnap and murder of Krishnadas
One UTP suspected of masterminding plot, Body to be taken to Kakching today
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 14 2009: Revelations made by Seram Ongbi Ashalata Devi, arrested by Imphal West District police commando in connection with the kidnap and subsequent murder of contractor Yengkhom Krishnadas, have now led the police to believe that one under trial prisoner (UTP) belonging to an underground outfit is the mastermind of the brutal episode.

Reliable sources said, Ashalata Devi, who was remanded in police custody yesterday, has disclosed during interrogation that one UG cadre who is at present being imprisoned in the Sajiwa Central Jail is involved in the crime.

The UTP is an important figure of a particular UG group, whose name is frequently heard by the general public, the sources said.

Wife of slain Krishnadas breaks down at Kakching

The man in the Sajiwa Central Jail had asked Ashalata on mobile phone to go and collect the money (Rs 25 lakh).

After collecting the money, she was told by the same man to hand over the money to two persons on Nova scooter who were sent by him.

Thus she handed over the money to them, the sources said.

The woman is yet to reveal the identity of the two persons who had collected the ransom money from her.

She will be interrogated further, the sources said.

In the meanwhile, police are likely to take the UTP out of the prisons tomorrow for getting his remand from the court in police custody for interrogations.

However, police have not issued any official statement about the new development in the case.

The sources refused to divulge the identity of the UTP and the outfit he belongs to.

On the other hand, around 10,000 men and women of Kakching gathered at the Naohallai ground at Kakching Bazar this afternoon and held a public meeting which condemned the brutal murder of Y Krishnadas on the demand for paying ransom of Rs 2 crore.

The meeting demanded from the government to book the murderers soon.

Representatives of various civil society organisations such as Hericoun, UCM, AMUCO, NIPCO, MEELAL, AMKIL, etc.

took part in the protest meeting.

Wife of the slain contractor, Bimola Devi narrated the incident of her husband being taken away by the unknown armed criminals.

She said, hand over the woman who taken the ransom money, and she will detect the murderers immediately.

She expressed doubts that the identity of the murderers might be covered up.

She does not want ex-gratia payment and job from the government.

It is time to teach the murderers lessons so that such unfortunate fate would not befall others in Manipur in future, she said.

The meeting adopted several resolutions which were submitted in the form of an ultimatum to the Chief Minister during a meeting with representatives of the JAC this evening.

The ultimatum mentioned that since a woman involved in the murder of Krishnadas has been arrested, the rest of the guilty persons must be booked at the earliest; considering the troubles of the people, the proposed bandh has been called off, however sit-in-protest will continue till the murderers are booked; though no agreement ha been brought about between the government and the people's JAC, the body of Krishnadas will be taken as per the wish of the family and the last rites will be performed according to religious traditions, for which a peaceful procession carrying the body will be organised from Imphal to Kakching, and the government be urged to give permission for the same; and the government must translate the demands into reality within seven days starting from today.

MLA of Wabagai Assembly Constituency, Usham Deven and MLA of Kakching AC, Y Surchandra were also present during the meeting between the Chief Minister and the representatives of JAC.

Chief Minister OIbobi reportedly assured the JAC that since a woman involved in the crime has been arrested, the other criminals involved in the murder would be booked very soon.

The family will take the body at about 10 am tomorrow.