Imphal, May 15 2009: Contrary to the charges of 'reckless corruption' levelled against him, it has come to light that NSCN (IM) had written two letters to Dr Thingnam Kishan while he was the SDO of Kasom Khullen Sub-division demanding payment of Rs 2,68,676 as royalty taxes from the fund released for implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the sub-division.

Addressing a press conference in this connection at Manipur Press Club here today, representatives of the JAC formed in the aftermath of bludgeoning to death of Dr Kishan and his two sub-ordinate staff after being abducted, strongly condemned and refuted the allegation of the Naga rebel outfit terming it as complete hogwash.

JAC convenor Y Kapur disclosed that in an attempt to lure Dr Kishan to the vortex of corruption, NSCN (I-M) had given two demand letters directing him to hand over 7 percent of the fund allocated for implementation of NREGS in Kasom Khullen sub-division to the GPRN, the underground government of the Naga rebel group.

Both the demand letters were signed by one Th Rainam, who is the finance in-charge of Wung Tangkhul Region of the outfit.

The total amount demanded comes up to Rs 2,68,676 .

However, Dr Kishan did not cow down to the unreasonable demand of the outfit and had ensured that the entire amount of the fund reach the people of the sub-division for whom it was meant for in the first place.

So, NSCN (IM) is only conjuring up a concocted and wild allegation based on the old theory of levelling false charges after death when the truth is that the murder of Dr Kishan and his two sub-ordinate staff namely driver A Rajen and Revenue Mandal Y Token have been well-planned by NSCN (IM), Kapur opined.

Chairman of the JAC Soram Tiken categorically stated the so called judgement of the NSCN (IM) is not acceptable to the JAC and the people of Manipur.

The trial of the triple murder should be conducted and the final judgement passed in accordance to the existing law of the land, Tiken demanded, adding that the CBI should also speed up its inquiry and based on its findings, all the guilty persons should be booked.

He also demanded that legal action be initiated against the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul district Pankaj Kumar Pal, who has evading police summon for interrogation.

Questioning why the report of the inquiry committee instituted by the Government has not been made public so far, Tiken lamented that the Government has also said nothing about the three persons who have been abducted along with Dr Kishan but later claimed to have been rescued by the security forces from Tolloi in UKhrul district.

This shows lack of transparency on the part of the Government in dealing with the issue, Tiken asserted.

The chairman further said the JAC and the public would like to know the response of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Works Minister K Ranjit to the charges that NSCN (IM) has cooked up against Dr Kishan.

Pointing out that NSCN (IM) has not spelled out anything on the charges of A Rajen and Y Token who were murdered along with Dr Kishan and the responsibility of the crime has thrust upon only on Col Hopeson Ningshen, the JAC has also asked the Chief Minister, who had given assurance of taking up necessary actions once the culprits are known, to keep his words and act now.

It is conveyed that in connection with the issue of triple killing, the JAC would be organising a public interface at Kangla Hall on May 17 .

Along with adopting a Kangla declaration at the public interface, the resolutions adopted at the occasion would be forwarded to the Governor and the Home Minister for initiating necessary measures.

During the press conference today, the JAC also released an audio cassette in remembrance of the three victims.

Comment