RIMS morgue to Gandhi Ghat : Three souls take last journey

As the mortal remains of SDO Dr Thingnam Kishan, driver Aribam Rajen, Mandal Yumnam Token take their last journey the public let go off their pent up emotions and anger to bid them farewell

IMPHAL, Feb 23 : Mortal remains of SDO Thingnam Kishan, Mandal Yumnam Token and Driver Aribam Rajen who were brutally murdered by cadres belonging to the NSCN (IM) were claimed by respective family members amidst a tearful funeral procession.As per an understanding reached between the family members, JAC and the Government, the last rites of the three slain employees were performed at Gandhi Ghat, Uripok.Following an agreement between the JAC and the Government, family members, relatives and a large number of people including members of different civil society organisations came to RIMS mortuary to claim the mortal remains this morning.As the mortal remains were brought out from the mortuary, a large number of people particularly women broke down and sobbed giving vent to their emo- tions. The lifeless bodies were then put on three trucks one after another in three well decorated coffins. Thereafter a large number of people took out a funeral procession starting from Lamphel traffic point. From there, the procession snaked through RIMS Road, Nagamapal, Waheng-bam Leikai, Keishampat and Singjamei Yumnam Leikai through Keishamthong.At Yumnam Leikai, the birthplace of Yumnam Token, people paid floral tributes to the three persons who were found murdered in the most primitive method using crude weapons.From Yumnam Leikai, the procession headed to the homes of the other two victims at Uripok and Nagamapal carrying all the three coffins. The rallyists who took part in the funeral procession held placards which read as, “Let truth be your walking stick, Ibobi”, “Truthful persons are unable to live”, “Why are the unbridled rulers so afraid”, “Won’t the Government protect lives of innocent citizens.” IM’s peace in the hills, deaths in the valley !Earlier, as the three trucks carrying the three coffins approached RIMS Road Crossing, police halted the procession and asked the people to take the three coffins to their houses separately. To this, the shocked and aggrieved people maintained that they would take the three corpses together as they died together. Enraged and visibly upset by the police instruction, a large number of people lay prostrate on the road in front of the vehicles carrying coffins.

Two BSF men killed in MPA ambush

IMPHAL, Jan 24: Two personnel of BSF have been killed in an ambush launched by the proscribed UNLF’s armed wing MPA near Ithai Barrage under Kumbi police station in Bishnupur district at about 4.45 pm today.This was the first incident of the year in which security personnel have been killed in UG attack.The BSF personnel came under attack when some of them came out without arms to buy articles from the market located near Ithai Barrage. The BSF personnel belong to 193 B BSF D-Coy, stationed at Ithai Barrage which is a part of the Loktak Multipurpose Project, informed a police source.Three personnel sustained injuries in the attack launched by some persons who came on motor cycles. Even as the three personnel were rushed to RIMS immediately, Sishpal (42) and Sukhdev (42) succumbed to their injuries at RIMS.The third injured personnel identified as Chandrakanta is currently undergoing treatment at RIMS. He was hit by a bullet on the right side of stomach. Meanwhile, the proscribed UNLF has claimed responsibility for the attack. A spokesperson of the outfit informed that the attack was launched by a special team of the MPA in protest against the upcoming Republic Day celebrations.All the MPA cadres involved in the attack have returned to their camp safe and sound, conveyed the spokesperson.