TSE investigates : Dr Kishan, A Rajen, Y Token, Kapangkhui, Ramthing, Ramshing abducted from Ukhrul Gate Four others held, murder trail from Ukl

IMPHAL, Mar 6 : The investigation launched by the State Government to get to the bottom of the brutal murder of Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Th Kishan and his two subordinate staff appears to be making some headway as the driver of the Bolero which was used by the NSCN (IM) cadres as well three people who provided them shelter have been picked up and sent to jail. Talking to The Sangai Express, a well placed source from the State Police Department said that from the disclosure of the driver of the Bolero (MN04/A/2645) and the three other persons, it has been established that six IM men lay in wait near the DC office on February 13. Once the SDO along with his five staff came out from the office of the DC a little after 12 noon on February 13, the Bolero, which was forcibly taken by the IM men, gave chase and over took the Gypsy near St Thomas School.Thereafter the Bolero stopped the Gypsy near the Naga Gate (Ukhrul Gate) at Hundung, said the source. After stopping the Gypsy carrying the SDO and his staff, the six IM men who were in the Bolero, driven by Mahei Kasar of Nungsong village told the officer to accompany them to Siroy for some talks, revealed the source further. The SDO and his men were however not taken to Siroy that day, February 13, for they stopped for the night at Langdang, a village situated between Ukhrul and Siroy. The officer and his men and the NSCN (IM) cadres spent the night at the residence of the former Head- man of Langdang village identified as Wungmasho.On reaching Langdang village, the number plate of as well as the beacon of the Gypsy allotted to the SDO were removed and the vehicle was kept out of sight. The next day, three employees who were abducted along with the SDO, Kapangkhui Zimik, Ram-thing Tangkhul and Ram- shing Tangkhul were let off by the IM men, said the source. After spending the night at Langdang, the SDO along with his two staff were bundled into the Bolero and along with three armed NSCN (IM) cadres, they were driven towards Seikhor village (Ukhrul west) on the Old Imphal-Ukhrul road. Seikhor village is located about 18 kms from Ukhrul district headquarters. Disclosing more details, the source said that at Seikhor village, the NSCN (IM) cadres got in touch with the village chief Soreingam Riphung and village secretary Th Zimik and the officer and his men spent the nights of February 14 and 15 at the residence of the village secretary. The following day the SDO and his two men accompanied by the three armed IM cadres as well as the driver proceeded towards Tora and passed through Tuinem and then reached Ngaingu junction, where one of the armed cadres got down, as it was getting cramped inside the vehicle. From Ngaingu junction, the six of them, that is Dr Kishan, A Rajen, Y Token, the two IM cadres and the driver took the Senapati- Phaibung road. The officer, his staff and the abductors reached Senapati a little after midnight and there, the Bolero with the driver was left near a stone crushing centre. From there the SDO and his men were taken on foot by the two gun wielding NSCN (IM) cadres towards Taphou Kuki village, said the source and added that the officer and his men may have been bludgeoned to death in the wee hours of February 17. After the ‘work’ was done, the two armed IM cadres returned to the site of the stone crusher where the Bolero and the driver were and they took the same route back.The former Headman of Langdang village in whose house the SDO, his men and the IM cadres spent the night on February 13 was picked up by the police on February 23 and he was sent to jail on March 1. The driver of the Bolero, which was forcibly taken by the IM men, Mahei Kasar of Nungshong village was picked up on February 25 and was sent to jail on March 4. The chairman of Seikhor village Soreingam Riphung and the secretary Th Zimik were respectively arrested on February 26 and 27 and were sent to jail on March 4, said the source further. To a query on the primary reason for the brutal killing of the SDO and his men, the source said that it is yet to be established as the alleged master mind of the dastardly crime self styled Lt Col of the NSCN (IM) Hopeson Ningshen of Nambisa is in the custody of the outfit. The statements of 30 eye witnesses have been recorded by the police, said the source and added that further investigation is on. The Gypsy that was found abandoned at Mahadev has been confirmed as the one allotted to the late SDO. On the other hand the IG (LO-III) V Zathang who has been in Ukhrul for the past days to investigate the case has returned to Imphal while Commissioner O Nabaki-shore and IG (Intelligence) LM Khaute are continuing with the investigation. The two men inquiry constituted by the State Government is headed by O Nabakishore and LM Khaute. The killing was widely condemned.