Kangpokpi shuts down over 'custodial death'
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, January 28 2020:
Social Welfare Minister, Nemcha Kipgen walked down the National Highway-2 from Kangpokpi Police Station till KSO Sadar Hills Administrative Office to resolve the ruckus over the alleged custodial death of a KRA cadre inside Kangpokpi Police Station lock up this morning.
Tension erupted today morning at Kangpokpi DHQs over the alleged custodial death of KNO/KRA cadre inside Kangpokpi Police Station lock up and it was finally resolved late this evening after the intervention of Nemcha Kipgen and traffic which had been halted for the whole day resumed at around 5.30 pm.
Thangboi Lhouvum, national child bravery awardee who later joined the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) was arrested by personnel of 38 Assam Rifles on January 25 afternoon near Toribari along Imphal-Tamenglong road allegedly while extorting money from vehicles plying along the road.
The AR reportedly handed him over to Kangpokpi Police Station the same evening along with medical fitness certificate.
However, he was found dead inside the lock up of Kangpokpi Police Station this morning.
The deceased is survived by his wife and three children, the youngest being only 6 months old.
As the news of the death spread, enraged mob mostly women gathered and stormed Kangpokpi Police Station where some youth vandalized windowpanes and damaged few furniture and computer desktop inside the police station.
To control and disperse the agitated crowd, the police personnel were compelled to fire several rounds in the air.
The irate mob then burnt tyres on the road along National Highway � 2 in front of the police station and imposed lightning a bandh where hundreds of passengers were stranded for the whole day.
All business establishments in the town were also closed for the day.
No vehicles except on medical ground and press and media were allowed to pass the highway.
Even Nemcha Kipgen was left to walk till KSO Sadar Hills Administrative office building from Kangpokpi Police Station.
DC Kangpokpi, Lalithambigai Kalidas, IAS and IGP Zone-III, K Jayanta Singh immediately rushed to Kangpokpi police station to take stock of the situation and a series of separate meeting was held both with the civil bodies as well the Government representatives and later a joint meeting was held at KSO Sadar Hills administrative building.
Nemcha Kipgen, who is also the local MLA also rushed to the town and joined the joint meeting along with ADC Sadar Hills Chairman and his colleagues including the Vice Chairman Thangjakam Misao, IGP Lunseh Kipgen.
The civil bodies including Kuki Inpi Saikul, KSO Sadar Hills, KSO Saikul, KWU Sadar Hills, TSA, Thadou Inpi, KTC, KWWO and KYU were headed by Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi District.
Assam Rifles officials were also present at the joint meeting.
SP Hemant Pandey assured to give a cheque of Rs 1 lakh on humanitarian ground on his part stating that he was deeply hurt and moved on seeing the small children and the wife of the deceased being a responsible father.
After deliberating on the condition and charter of demands of the CSOs Kangpokpi on behalf of the victim's family in the presence of Nemcha Kipgen, an agreement was signed between the two parties where it was agreed to perform Hemkham, the Kuki customary rites and rituals this evening itself, to suspend the police officer concerned and on duty police personnel, to recommend for judicial inquiry to the case, to provide an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh and a Grade �IV post to the victim's wife.
After the agreement was brought the lightning bandh was lifted and normal traffic was resumed while the body of the victim was taken to Imphal for post mortem after the magistrate inquiry and forensic department officials performed their duties at the police station.
Meanwhile, KTC on behalf of the people of Kangpokpi expressed sincerely regret and apology to the passengers who were stranded the whole day owing to the lightning bandh while stating that since such incident has been the first of its kind in the district, everyone was hurt and irate and they were compelled to resort to such an extreme step so as to avoid such incident in future.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur also condemned the alleged custodial death of Thangboi Lhouvum and warned to launch a series of agitation in case the Government fails to take appropriate action.
According to a reliable source, an order was issued late this afternoon by SP Kangpokpi suspending two Constables and one Sub Inspector of Kangpokpi Police in connection with the alleged custodial death.
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