Imphal, February 17 2009: Sub-divisional Officer/Sub-Divisional magistrate (SDO/SDM) of Kasom Khullen Sub-Divsion of Ukhrul district, Dr Thingnam Kishan, kidnapped by miscreants along with five others including three employees of Revenue Department, was found brutally murdered today along with his two staff under the Lukhrabi bridge along the NH-39 in Senapati district.

The killing sparked off anger among the residents of Nagamapal, Uripok and Yumnam Leikai in Imphal where the murdered men hailed from, and a 48-hour statewide general strike has been called from 6 am tomorrow.

The residents also blocked the roads in their respective areas decrying the brutal murder this afternoon.

Separate bandhs have also been called by the district based civil organisations in Senapati and Ukhrul districts.

In Ukhrul, the bandh has started from 6 pm today while in Senapati, it commenced from 8 pm tonight, according to reports received here.

The three men were hacked with a hoe and smashed their heads with rock and other heavy weapons.

Marks of injuries indicating that their heads and faces were hacked with a hoe and smashed with heavy weapons were clearly visible.

Police recovered a bloodstained hoe and some bloodied rocks from the spot where the dead bodies were abandoned after brutally killing them.

Their hands were also found tied at their back with clothes.

The dead body of the 39 year-old SDO, Dr Thingnam Kishan, son of Surendro of Nagamapal Kangjabi Leirak, Meinam Leikai, along with bodies of his driver Aribam Rajen @ Amu (37), son of Ibopishak of Uripok Khoisnam Leikai, Imphal and a Mandal in his office named Yumnam Token (38), son of late Samu of Yumnam Leikai were discovered by the villagers of Taphou Kuki Village under the Lukharabi bridge, located six km south of Senapati Police Station this morning.

Senapati police retrieved the bodies around 7.30 am.

The spot where the dead bodies were found lying is located between the Taphou Kuki village and the battalion headquarter of the 9th Manipur Rifles.

Whereabouts of three other persons�a peon at the SDO office at Phungyar, Ukhrul and two workers, all hailing from Kasom Khullen village, who were abducted together with the SDO on February 13 on their way from Ukhrul district headquarters to Kasom Khullen sub-divisional headquarters, are still unknown.

Among the missing men, one Kapangkhup Jimmik is a peon in the office of the SDO, Phungyar, Ukhrul district, and the other two namely Ramthing Tangkhul and Ramshing Tangkhul of Kasom Khullen are said to be village level workers.

They were abducted by cadres of the NSCN (IM) led by a leader of the group well-known to the general people of the area around 2 pm from the office complex of the DC, Ukhrul, about 2 km from Ukhrul PS, reports said.

The government allotted vehicle, a Gypsy, bearing registration number MNG-04-5799 ridden by the officer of the Manipur Civil Service (MCS) cadre is also still missing, police said.

The officer was abducted with his companions came to the district headquarters to attend a meeting held at the DC office to discuss preparations for the visit of the Works Minister, K Ranjit last Sunday, February 14 at Phungyar, and a meeting in connection with the implementation of the NREGS in the district, reports said.

The meetings were held under the chair of the DC Ukhrul, Pankaj Kumar Pal, the reports added.

While leaving the DC office, Kishan had reportedly told that he would proceed to Kasom Khullen, but according to a staff of the DC office, he had seen the SDO heading towards Jessami.

Regarding the kidnap of the SDO along with his companions from the DC Complex, so far the DC or any of the authority of the office had not lodged any complaint with the police or informed the higher authorities of the state government, sources said.

Instead, they said that he had been on leave since the next day of his visit to the DC office.

Their abduction by the NSCN (IM) cadres came to light only when the SDO was not seen at the gathering at Phungyar on February 14, and SDO's home was informed of his missing by a staff of his office the same day.

Even though nobody has lodged complaint with the police, Ukhrul police took up asuo motu case on the kidnapping of the SDO and his companions around 7 pm yesterday under FIR 8 (2) 2009 under section 365/368/38 of the IPC of the police station.

According to the families of the deceased, the SDO with his driver and Mandal left home on the morning of February 13 around 7 am for Ukhrul district headquarters.

While leaving home, the SDO told his family that he would go to the district headquarter first and then to his office.

On the other hand, a joint meeting of the locals where the three victims hailed from, and members of the families held this evening formed a Joint Action Committee Against the Brutal Killing of SDO, Dr Kishan,Yumnam Token and Aribam Rajen.

Decrying the the incident, residents of Singjamei Yumnam Leikai, Nagamapal and Uripok, where the slain men hailed from, took to the streets on the NH-39 and Imphal-Kangchup road and blocked the traffic.

The blockade continued till late night.

Protesters were demanding clarification from the NSCN (IM) on the reason behind the murder of the three, punishment to the culprits, etc.

They are also demanding release of the three others who are still in the custody of the kidnappers and providing security escorts to the officials posted in the hill areas of the state.

The joint meeting also decided to hold another public meeting tomorrow and not to receive the dead bodies till their demands were fulfilled by the government.

Participants in the meeting had also expressed that NSCN (IM) killed the SDO and his staff for not allowing a demand of the outfit to pay them the funds released for the NREGS job card holders without any condition.

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