Imphal, April 06 2010: Though CBI has submitted the chargesheet in connection with the case of abduction and subsequent brutal murder of then Kasom Khullen Dr Thingnam Kishan and his two subordinate staff by armed cadres of NSCN (I-M), final hearing of the case has been delayed as the State Government is yet to give its response to the Supreme Court ruling on transferring the case from Manipur to a Court in Delhi.

In an exclusive interview with The Sangai Express, Additional Director General and Spokesperson of CBI Harsh Bhal informed that following the petition field by CBI in the Supreme Court of India for transfer of the case from Manipur to a Court in Delhi, the apex Court had on November 24, 2009 ordered for impleading the Government of Manipur as respondent and directed to submit its response within 4 weeks.

However, the Government of Manipur is yet to file its reply to the Supreme Court.

So, the petitions are yet to be listed in the Supreme Court for final hearing.

Regarding problems in conducting the case, the Additional Director General of the CBI said that the trial of the case will start once the matter is decided by the apex Court.

As per the investigation of CBI, the motive of abduction and killing of the SDO and his two staff was found to be ransom, he added.

It may be recalled here that CBI had submitted the chargesheet to the CJM Ukhrul in October last year.

The State Government had also expressed its favour on hearing of the case in a Delhi Court.

The then Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Thingnam Kishan and his two sub-ordinate staff namely driver Aribam Rajen and Revenue Mandal Yumnam Token were abducted by armed cadres of NSCN (I-M) from Ukhrul on February 13 last year but were found brutally murdered in Taphou Kuki village of Senapati district on February 17 .

The mastermind behind the abduction and subsequent murder, identified Hopeson Ningshen, a self styled lieutenant colonel of the Naga rebel group, which is undergoing peace talks with the Government of India, is currently lodged in Tihar Jail, Delhi.

On the other hand, regarding the BT Road incident of July 23, 2009 which the CBI is also investigating, the Additional Director General informed the as per the order of the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench, issued on December 23, 2009, a case dated January 1, 2010 has been registered on transfer of FIR taken up by the City Police Station, Imphal.

The case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Ch Taratombi, the mother of Ch Sanjit and the case is still under investigation, the officer said.

Further, a regular case dated February 5, 2010 was registered on the basis of the FIR dated July 27, 2009 at City Police Station on transfer of the case by the Government of Manipur and subsequent notification of the Government of India, the officer added.

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