Murdered SDO`s wife demands criminal proceedings against Ukhrul DC and SP; JAC says dead bodies not to be taken till demands met

IMPHAL, Feb 20: The wife of the late Dr. Th Kishan, SDO Kasom Khullen, Romita Devi has asked the state government to undertake criminal proceedings against the superintendent of police and deputy commissioner of Ukhrul district instead of only suspending them. She has also asked the authorities to use the ex-gratia of Rs. 10 lakhs provided to her in finding out the culprits.The statement was given at a joint meeting of the Apunba Lup and the JAC formed in the matter, held today at Yumnam Leikai. She further said that the DC Ukhrul was involved in the killing as the meeting on February 13 was called by him, and her husband along with the other officials were taken captive by the NSCN(IM) just after the meeting ended at the DC office complex.She also said that it was very unfortunate that the DC Ukhrul did not inform anyone and kept silent even after the abduction took place in front of him.She also stated that when her husband was alive, the DC Ukhrul used to mingle with the NSCN(IM) officials frequently and had a link with them. The DC even joined in the work of distribution of rice at schools which was undertaken under the control of the NSCN(IM), she added while terming the DC as an selfish person. She further charged that the murder plot was hatched by the DC himself.Regarding the ex-gratia, she said that by receiving some money from the authorities she would not keep quite, while asking the government to use the ex-gratia amount in finding out the culprits involved in the killing of her husband.S Subhankar, convener of the JAC expressed that when they enquired about the whereabouts of the SDO and his companions, they found that the SDC headquarter, Ukhrul had heard the news of their abduction already on February 16. He asked what the security personnel were doing till then.He also strongly condemned the incident in which security personnel fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the relatives and locals staying at the house of late Dr. Kishan, as is customary till the shradha ceremony is held, resulting in injuries to his brother.The meeting took a number of resolutions which were submitted to the chief minister leter. The resolutions include demands for taking up of criminal proceedings against the DC and SP of Ukhrul instead of only suspending them; release of the three missing officials unharmed; protection for the officials posted in hill areas; suspension of the police personnel involved in firing tear gas at the house of late Dr. Kishan within 24 hours; submission of a report to the Union ministry of home affairs on the violation of the ground rules by NSCN(IM) which is under ceasefire with the government of India and announcement of the proceedings of the MHA to the public; decision on a place for the joint cremation of the three deceased persons; disallowing of any base camp of the NSCN(IM) in Manipur; explanation to the public regarding the silence of the security personnel at Ukhrul district and allowing of erection of a memorial stone each at the premises of the DC office complex at Ukhrul, near Lukhrabi bridge in Senapati district and at the SDO office in Kasom Khullen.