Ex-soldier held in SDPO murder case
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 15 2024: Manipur police commandos deployed in Moreh town arrested two people accused of involvement in the assassination of Moreh SDPO Anand on October 31 last year, amid heavy firing by suspected Kuki militants.

The two accused have been identified as Philip K Khongsai s/o (L) Marcus Khongsai of New Moreh Ward no 8 and Hemkholal Mate s/o (L) Onkholun Mate, the chief of K Molsang village.

Philip joined the 14 Assam Regiment in 1999 and retired from service in 2018.He is currently the president of Moreh Youth Club and an executive of Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal, in addition to being the leader of Moreh defence force.

He is the main accused in the murder of SDPO Anand.

Hemkholal Mate, on the other hand, is the finance secretary of Mate Tribe Union (MTU) and is also one the prime accuse in the murder case.

According to a police report, around 5 14pm Monday, reliable input was received that Philip Khongsai, the main accused in the SDPO Anand murder case, was present near the ADC office complex located at a distance of 2km from Moreh police station.

Based on the input, a combined team of Moreh Police, Special Commando, 1RB and Moreh Commandos went to the spot and conducted a search operation.

During the operation, Kuki militants fired several rounds at the state forces, which the latter retaliated.

Amidst the gunfight, the state forces were able to apprehend Philip K Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate.

The state forces then handed them over to the Key Location Point (KLP) of 5AR.Meanwhile, a large crowd of women from Kuki villages near the border town thronged the KLP demanding unconditional release of the two accused.

On receiving news of the agitating crowd, a team of RAF arrived at the location and took up security measures to prevent any incidents.

On the other hand, on hearing about arrests of two accused in SDPO Anand's murder, the displaced residents of Moreh staying in the relief camps set up in Wangjing Kodompokpi Sports Complex and Akampat held a candle light vigil on Monday evening.

The residents also shouted various slogans such as befitting punishment of the culprits as per the law of the land, not to release Philip and other accused under any condition and deployment of additional state forces in Moreh.

It may be mentioned here that after SDPO Anand was sniped and killed by suspected Kuki militants on October 31, the state government despatched additional state forces to Moreh and conducted operations.

In retaliation to the operations conducted by the state forces, Kuki militants have been attacking the commandos with sophisticated weapons including rocket launchers.

The state forces also have been responding with fire of their own.

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