Deposited fund at TP Cell Vanishes

IMPHAL, May 26 : Just a day after the State Cabinet decided to abolish the Technical and Professional Cell (TP Cell) during the meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on April 29 last, the fund deposited by various Departments in the account of the TP Cell have vanished even as suspicions have been raised on diversion of around Rs 2 crores illegally.According to a reliable source, following the State Cabinet decision to abolish the TP cell and to set up a Committee with the Chief Secretary as chairman to look into the work process and fund deposited by various Departments in the account of the TP cell, the Finance Department had also issued an order in this regard.However, on May 2 when the Chief Secretary who is the Committee chairman deputed an Additional Secretary of the Finance Department to the Registrar Co-operative in connection with freezing the account of the TP cell it was learnt that the account was nil and there was no fund in it.

KYKL claims hand in eliminating Prof Islamuddin

The proscribed KYKL has claimed responsibility for killing former Dean of Students’ Welfare, MU, Prof Islamuddin inside MU campus yesterday.A press release issued by the outfit publicity and research secretary Lan-ngamba Mangang said that Prof Islamuddin was given death penalty for his alleged unpardonable faults.It was Prof Islamuddin’s grievous faults that tarnished the image of Manipur University besides creating divisions among students, alleged the outfit. The main culprit behind the serious disturbance caused to the academic atmosphere of Manipur University was Islamuddin, it asserted.His faults and errors need not be mentioned again. All his malpractices and faults can be established by looking into the issue surrounding the last MUSU election, Lanngamba said.Making the issue complex and confusing, which at first was simple and could have been easily rectified, and telling lies to hoodwink people and to absolve him-self from his wrong doings was the ploy of Prof Isla-muddin, the outfit asserted.Saying that a clique of some corrupt, selfish teachers and students have been operating within Manipur University, the outfit alleged that the primary objective of this clique is to make MU their private fiefdom.

Former Dean Prof Islamuddin assassinated inside MU campus

IMPHAL, May 25 : Unidentified gunmen shot dead Proctor of Manipur University Prof Md Islamuddin inside the campus of the University at around noon today.To protest the killing which has sent has shock waves across the State, Pangal Students’ Organi-sation (PSO), Manipur has called a 24-hour State wide bandh with effect from midnight today.Information culled from the site of the crime said that three persons on two Kinetic Honda scooters were seen coming from the side of boys’s hotel. The Kinetic Honda in front was driven by only one person while the other two persons were on the second Kinetic Honda following close behind.A student eye-witness who was present not very far from the site of the crime informed that Prof Islamuddin was coming out from his room and heading towards his car parked at the vehicle shed located in front of the road to the east of Economics Department and northwest of the University library when around three persons approached Md Islamuddin and took him along the footpath leading to the Library. Not long after that gun shots were heard and Prof Islamuddin was seen dropping down to his knees after being shot on his leg. While Prof Islamuddin was in that position, the unidentified gunmen shot two more rounds and he fell to the ground in a heap.Soon after committing the crime, one of the gunmen slipped the gun inside the tool box of the Kinetic Honda underneath the seat and all three of them left driving their Kinetic Hondas towards the boys’s hotel, said the witness.Police said that one of the Kinetic Hondas used by the killers belong to a student of the University.Prof Islamuddin was immediately rushed to RIMS Hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead at around 12.35 pm.A Professor of Economics, Md Islamuddin was the Dean of Students’ Welfare of the University before taking over the charge of Proctor.In connection with the incident, president of Mani-pur University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) Mai-bam Ranjit said he was informed about a man lying dead and when he went to inspect it turned out to be Prof Islamuddin. Immediately, Prof Isla-muddin was taken to RIMS Hospital in his car but he could not be saved.A resident of Yairipok Changamdabi Mathak Leikai, Prof Islamuddin was 50 years of age. He is survived by his wife, two sons and one daughter. All his children are studying outside the State and he was staying along with his wife in the quarters allotted to him inside the University campus.There were two fatal bullet marks on the left side of the stomach. There was also a bullet mark on his left thigh.Strongly condemning the the killing, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has assured that the killers, whether they be members of UG groups or student bodies, would not be spared.Talking to mediapersons at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital where he had come to share the grief of the family members, Ibobi said killing of a Professor inside the campus of an educational institution which is not unthinkable even during war is an act of cowardice that can be committed only by some brazen criminals.The Chief Minister expressed apprehension that such senseless violences not only cause disturbance in the developmental activities of the State but may also discourage the Government of India from the efforts of setting up of NIT, IIT or IIIT in the State or the sites of these projects may be shifted to other North Eastern States.Education Minister L Jayantakumar said that killing of a University Professor could have been carried out only by those who do not think about the welfare of the students.Works Minister K Ranjit, MOBC Minister Md Allauddin Khan, PDA Chairman Kh Loken, MLA I Ibohalbi and MLA Th Lokeshore also visited the RIMS morgue.

Heist at Imphal Post Office mail van Computer components hijacked

IMPHAL, Mar 20: Unidentified persons reportedly hijacked consignments of computer parts and other electronic items worth Rs 15 lakhs from the mail van of the post office here yesterday.The consignments which send in the name of the General Post Office, Imphal had been brought from Guwahati by a cargo plane of the Indian Airlines.In protest against the hijacking, staff of the General Post Office today suspended their normal work and staged a protest demonstration.According to an official source from the General Post Office, Imphal, the consignments have been send from Guwahati in a cargo plane of the Indian Airlines which landed at Imphal airport at around 1 pm yesterday and were being brought from the airport by the van driver of the Post office and four other Group-D employees, when it was hijacked along the way by the unidentified miscreants.As the van carrying the computer parts and other electronic items packed in 51 different packages approached Leirik Memorial Hospital, the unidentified miscreants numbering around four of them who were already there intercepted the van and made it to be driven till Nepra Menjor Pukhri Mapal.There, all the packages from the van were loaded to a waiting DI Tata of blue and white colour and after that the driver and the staff of the mail van were told to go. The released staff arrived at the post office at around 2 pm.Along with reporting the matter, a case has been registered by the Lamphel police in connection with the incident of hijacking the consignments worth around Rs 15 lakhs.Even as the police have recorded the statements of the five staff who have gone to pick up the consignments from the airport yesterday, a departmental inquiry has also been started from the side of the Post Office.

Murder of SDO and subordinates NSCN (IM) rounds up three ‘killers’

IMPHAL, Feb 22 : Keeping in line with its pledges that nothing will be left to chance to expose the people behind the brutal murder of the SDO of Kasom Khullen and his two subordinate staff, the NSCN (IM) has rounded up three suspects. Disclosing this while speaking to The Sangai Express today evening, a spokesman of the Law and Order Department of the Wung Tangkhul Region said that three persons have been taken into custody in connection with the abduction and later brutal murder of the SDO, Dr Th Kisan, his driver Aribam Rajen and Mandal, Y Token.The three have been identified as Lt Col Hopeson Tangkhul, Apho Sibo and Major Ashang. Newmai News Network has reported that the armed wing of the NSCN-IM has admitted that one of its ‘commanding officers’ (CO) was behind the brutal and inhuman killing of Kasom Khullen SDO and his two subordinates. Informing this today, “Naga Army’, the armed wing of the NSCN-IM said that ‘commanding officer’ (CO) Lt Col H Ningshen was the masternind in the killing of Dr Th Kishan and his two subordinates.In a statement, the armed wing of the NSCN-IM said, “In what can be termed as the most shocking revelation, one of our senior officers has turned out to be the black sheep of the family. To our utter disappointment, it has been established that the Commanding Officer of Kiusumong Battalion (Siroy), Lt Col H Ningshen was the brain behind the brutal killing of the Kasom Khullen SDO and his two aides. What prompted him to undertake such severe measure against the civil servants of Manipur Government cannot justify the inhuman action metted out under his command,” said the Naga Army of the NSCN-IM tonight.The NSCN-IM’s official statement in this regard will be issued on Monday, according to the outfit’s Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP).Sources in the NSCN-IM said that on Monday the outfit will decide what step should be taken against ‘Lt Col’ H Ningshen.The NSCN-IM’s ‘home minister’ has already said that whoever big or small, in the event of the outfit’s personnel involved in the brutal and inhuman murder of the SDO and his two staffs would not be spared but awarded the ‘severest’ form of punishment.Another source informed The Sangai Express that Apho Sibo a Town Commander while Hopeson Tangkhul was the commander of the Siroy camp which was recently evicted. Speaking to The Sangai Express, the spokesman of the Law and Order Department of the Wung Tangkhul Region said that the GPRN did not issue any order to kill the SDO and his two men.The three were acting on their own individual capacity, said the spokesman and added that the killing was the machinations of gangsters.They do not represent the GPRN in any position, asserted the spokesman and maintained that investigation is on to round up all those involved in the heinous crime.Details of the case will be issued within three days time, asserted the spokesman.

Missing trio rescued: CM

IMPHAL, Feb 21: The three employees abducted toge-ther with Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Th Kishan, Mondal Y Token and Driver A Rajen have been rescued by a combined team of Assam Rifles and police from Tol-loi, Ukhrul district this morning.The rescued employees are Extension Officer in-charge RS Ramsing, village level worker S Ramthing and Peon Kapangkhui.People believe that the State Government can now ascertain the identities, motives and details of the cul- prits involved in the barba-ric murder. Conveying about the successful rescue operation during a press meet this afternoon, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said the three abducted employees were rescued after a joint operation by Assam Rifles and police led by an IG.During the press meet which started at about 2.45 pm, the Chief Minister said that the rescued employees were being brought to Im-phal by an AR team. They would be arriving at Imphal within 10/15 minutes, Ibobi maintained.The AR team was entrusted to bring the rescued employees to Imphal to avoid any misadventure on the way, he stated.“The three employees would be fearing both the murderers and the Government. As their minds would have been already troubled with the possible threats to their future lives when they disclose the truths and facts of the gruesome murder, they would be ques- tioned with the assurance of full protection in their future lives,” the Chief Minister conveyed. To a query raised by scribes about the people’s lingering suspicion of NSCN (IM)’s involvement in the brutal murder, Ibobi said that the State Government would exert pressure upon the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to take up ne-cessary actions against the rebel group in case their involvement is confirmed prima facie.

Relief, heartache mark curfew relaxation

IMPHAL, Feb 21: Wareda ! Curfew Ashi Loishilla-ningleda (Woe is brimful, wish the curfew is lifted).These are the soulful words that Ibechaobi, who missed the bus following re-imposition of curfew, utte- red. She was returning from selling fishes in the Khwai-ramband Market when the curfew was reimposed after being lifted from 1 pm to 3 pm today.After the 48 hours State wide bandh and general strike called by various organisations including the JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Dr Th Kishan Singh, Y Token Singh and A Rajen Sharma in protest against the killing, from 6 pm of February 17 to 6 pm of February 19, imposition of indefinite curfew by the district admi-nistration of Imphal East and West with effect from 5 pm of February 19 has caused untold miseries to many daily wage earners like Ibechaobi.A resident of Mayang Imphal in Imphal West district, Ibechaobi came to the Khwairamband Bazar to sell fishes on hearing the news of lifting the curfew from 1 pm to 3 pm today.However, at around 3.30 pm, Ibechaobi and two other women fish sellers namely Chaobisana and Sana were observed walking along the road of Wa- hengbam leikai as they missed the bus for returning home following reimposition of curfew.Two more women from Nambol selling Ngakra and Ukabi were also found wal-king down along the road of Keishampat carrying loads on their heads after missing the buses.Talking to The Sangai Express, Ibechaobi said when the cost of 1 kg of rice has reached Rs 22, inability to come to the market and sell fishes has forced her to borrow rice from the neighbour to feed her family.

Declare culprits as terrorists: MPP

IMPHAL, Feb 20 : The Government of India should declare the particular organisation involved in the brutal murder of SDO Dr Thingnam Kishan, Revenue Mandal Y Token and Driver A Rajen as a terrorist organisation in case hints and evidences suggestive of the group’s involvement are established.MPP MLAs O Joy, Dr Ng Bijoy and RK Anand led by its president Dr L Chandramani visited the bereaved families today and shared their pain and sorrow. Talking to the visiting MLAs, JAC members and family members decried that the scheduled joint meeting of the three JACs constituted in connection with the triple murder to find a solution to the issue could not be held because of imposition of curfew. Countering how they can solve the issue while the public are being denied any movement, the family members appealed to the MPP MLAs to work for curfew relaxation.Assuring that they would call on the Chief Minister and urge him to relax the curfew, the MPP leaders said that they would also urge the Chief Minister to punish the culprits and trace the three missing employees abducted together with Dr Kishan besides seeking protecting for the bereaved families.BJP general secretary and ex-MLA M Bhorot was also with the MPP MLAs during the visit.Later speaking to media persons after calling on the Chief Minister, MPP Legislature wing leader O Joy observed that the muder of SDO Kishan and his two staff was different from other incidents of violence both in manner and degree. Saying that the murder seems to be motivated by communalism, Joy asserted that if concrete evidences can be collected on the involvement of any organisation in the murder, the Government of India should declare the particular organisation as a terrorist group.

Curfew still on, no sign of reprieve

IMPHAL, Feb 20: Curfew clamped in Imphal West and Imphal East districts since 5 pm yesterday as a pre-emptive measure against any possible untoward incident in the aftermath of the public outcry against the brutal murder of SDO Kishan and his two staff is still in force but there has been no report of any untoward incident till the time of filing this report.A large number of security personnel including CRPF, MR, IRB and Manipur Police are being deployed in almost every road and street of the twin capital city.Soon after the curfew was clamped at 5 pm yesterday, a number of commando teams have been going around in the two districts driving in any one who dare to venture out of their homes. Due to the curfew, all important places of Imphal East including Lamlong Keithel Kongba Keithel were totally deserted. There was no vehicular traffic on all roads and all roadside shops remained shut.In Imphal West, Khwairamband Keithel and all other market centres bore deserted looks. Barring for a very sparse vehicular movement for religious purposes and medical reasons, there was no vehicular traffic. A large number of security personnel were also seen keeping a strict vigil around Khwairamband Keithel. Few people who ventured out at Keishampat, Tiddim road, Singjamei road, Uripok road and Nagamapal road were driven back by the large number of security personnel present all along these roads.Literally, no movement of either vehicles or people was allowed during the curfew.Till late evening, commando teams continued to drive passers-by away from the roads.

Brutal murder of SDO and two subordinates

Late Dr Thingnam Kishan
IMPHAL, Feb 20 : Literally pointing the finger of accusation against the NSCN (IM) in the abduction and brutal murder of Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Thingnam Kishan his two subordinate staff, driver Aribam Rajen and Mandal Yumnam Token, Chief Minister O Ibobi has written to the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to get in touch with the leadership of the outfit and to instruct them not to repeat such act in the future. Disclosing this to The Sangai Express a reliable source said that in the evening of February 17, the day the bludgeoned bodies of the SDO and his two subordinates were found near Taphou Kuki village in Senapati district, the Chief Minister convened a high level meeting at his office chamber.The Chief Secretary, the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), DGP, GOC of 57 Mountain Division, IGAR (South) were among the officials present at the meeting, said the source. The missive was sent to the Union Home Minister after the meeting, informed the source further. In the missive, the Chief Minister categorically urged the Union Home Minister to instruct the leaders of the NSCN (IM) that the Government will not tolerate the cadres of the outfit moving openly with arms as well as not to repeat such heinous crime, added the source. The State Government has been providing inputs to the Union Home Ministry daily since then. On the other hand to trace and rescue the other three abducted men, security forces have been co-ordinating with each other, said the source. The wife of the slain SDO had yesterday informed some sections of the media that a number of district officials of Ukhrul district had informed her that her husband was in the custody of the NSCN (IM). The NSCN (IM) had on the other hand condemned the killing of the SDO and his subordinates and even claimed that it would investigate the case and crack it.Newmai News Network reports that the NSCN-IM while appreciating the statement of the Revolutionary Peoples’ Front (RPF), has said that vital clues have come from the testimony of Dr Th Kishan’s wife Romita which will serve as an important tool in the investigation conducted by the outfit into the brutal murder of the late Kasom Khullen SDO and his two subordinate staff.

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.