CM tells Delhi to tell IM to hand over ‘killers’

IMPHAL, Feb 23: A day after the NSCN (IM) admitted that one of its Lt Cols identified as Hopeson Ningshen masterminded the brutal killing of Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Th Kishan and his two staff, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today has sent a missive to the Union Home Ministry to instruct to the Ceasefire Monitoring Group to hand over the killers to the custody of the State Government.The message which was sent before the Chief Minister left Imphal categorically stated that the present case has shown that the NSCN (IM) has been letting loose a reign of terror in Manipur and demanded that the accused be handed over to the State Government to deliver justice.In his missive, the Chief Minister also recalled the past instances when the IM group had subverted the process of law.The Chief Minister is set to meet the Union Home Minister and highlight the role of the IM group in the killing of the SDO as well as recall past incidents, such as the cases of Hrinii Hubert and Muheni Martin, said the source. The Naga rebel group, which is engaged in peace talks with the Government of India for 11 years now, yesterday disclosed that three persons who were suspected to be involved in the killing have been taken into custody for further interrogation.Accordingly, the Chief Minister today communicated with the Home Ministry to give necessary instruction to the Ceasefire Monitoring Group for handing over the three suspects who are in the custody of the NSCN (IM) to the State Govt so as to help in dispensing of justice, disclosed a Cabinet Minister of the SPF Govt. On the other hand, according to a top police officer, interrogation of the three staff who were abduc-ted together with Dr Kishan but rescued from Tolloi in Ukhrul district by a joint team of Assam Rifles and Manipur has led to some conclusions that are similar to the disclosure of the NSCN (IM). The police officer conveyed that the black colour Bolero used for transportation of the three staff rescued from Tolloi has been recovered. The three rescued staff are being kept in the custody of the Assam Rifles on security reason, the police officer explained.