CM admits security lapses, assures justice
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, September 24 2021: Any individual or group involved in abduction and subsequent killing of Athuan Abonmai, ex-president of Zeliangrong Baudi, will not be spared, asserted chief minister N Biren, who is also in-charge of home.

Addressing a press conference at his Secretariat office, here on Friday, Biren said that Athuan Abonmai was a politician and social worker who always worked for promotion of cordial relationship between the hills and valley people and also for the integrity of Manipur.

The barbaric and cowardly act of killing Athuan Abonmai was very unfortunate and highly condemnable, he said, while adding that anybody involved in the killing, whether officials or civil society organisation/s, will be booked and legal action will be taken against them.

Biren clarified that the press conference could have been conducted on Thursday but postponed for a day so as to collect relevant details.

Alarmed at seeing the video footage of abducting Athuan, Biren questioned whether the moral of the police in hill area is at such low level or whether they thought that it was just a local fight.

In any case, the primary duty of the police is to save the person who was beaten or abducted in front of them, he added.

Admitting that there was security lapses in connection with the incident, Biren apologised to the public for such lapses as a home minister (in-charge) of the state.

He also condemned the police personnel for not intervening while Athuan Abonmai was being abducted in broad daylight.

Police personnel including OC, SI and ASI have been identified for their grave misconduct and dereliction of duty and have been placed under suspension.

The police personnel are not simply suspended.

There will be enquiry against them to find out whether they were part of the terrorist act.

The state government has constituted a three-member committee headed by IGP (Int) K Radhashyam to enquire into the incident leading to the abduction and subsequent killing of Athuan Abonmai on September 22.The committee will submit its report within one week without fail, he continued.

Biren assured that if there is any involvement of group/s that are under ceasefire agreement with the government of India, then the case will be handed over to the NIA.

The state government is in communication with the ministry of home affairs regarding the incident, he revealed.

Making it clear that the government will not tolerate any illegal activities, the chief minister said that intense search operation has already begun for hunting down the culprits and that the operation will continue till all the involved people are arrested.

The state government shares the pain and sorrow of the family members and relatives of Athuan Abonmai and the state cabinet will decide on providing ex-gratia to the next of kin of the deceased and also extend all possible assistance to the bereaved family members, he added.

The press conference was also attended by DGP L M Khaute, ADGP L Kailun and IGP (Int) K Radhashyam Singh.

Meanwhile, in connection with the abduction and subsequent murder of Athuan Abonmai, more state security forces have been deployed and combing operation intensified.

According to sources, more security forces were sent to Tamenglong on Friday as a part of action taken up by the government against the killing of Athuan Abonmai on Thursday.

A strong team of 65-armed security personnel led by 2nd MR CO, SP Imphal East, additional SP (Ops) Imphal East, SP (railways), SP Bishnupur, SP Kangpokpi, additional SP (ops) Thoubal and two commando teams left Imphal for Tamenglong and reached the district headquarters on Friday evening.

Moreover, security forces are intensifying operations in areas where the killers might be hiding.

The forces also began taking up initiatives to destroy camps of an armed organisation suspected to be involved in the killing.

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