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.

SFs raid Loktak Lake, UG hideout busted

IMPHAL, Dec 31: For the second time the combined forces of Army and the Bishnupur district police commandos launched operation in some parts of Loktak lake and succeeded in raiding the hideouts of UGs.During the operation conducted with induction of unmanned surveillance planes, exchange of firing had taken place between the UGs and the security forces. But there is no report of any casualty on either side.According to police report, the operation was conducted from early morning today after having cordoned off Tharopat, Ngamupat and Yennapat of Loktak lake since last night.During the course of the operation, exchange of firing took place between the UGs and the security forces at around 4 am and continued till 6 am.In connection with the operation, a statement issued by PIB Defence Wing said that in a surgically executed pre-dawn , troops of 57 Mountain Division and Bishnupur Police Commandos destroyed a large and well constructed hideout of the proscribed KYKL in the inaccessible Loktak lake.The raid which was the second of its kind in the Loktak lake resulted in recovery of automatic weapons, assorted ammunition, explosives, landmines, IEDs, Chinese grenade and propaganda materials like phamphlets and CDs.The recoveries included two AK-56 Rifles, 12 AK magazines, 174 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, 177 rounds of AK-56 ammunition, 50 rounds of point 22 ball ammunition, 20 UBGL grenades, 15 Anti-Personal Mines, 1 Chinese grenade, 8 sets of combat uniforms, one television set, one generator, six gas cylinders, IED materials and explosives, ruck sacks and pouches besides other war like stores and three country boats, the statement of the PIB Defence Wing listed.According to the statement, the hideout was well concealed and constructed in an inaccessible marshy area of Tharopat in the lake. There were six huts for stores and living besides one large hut possibly for training. The height of all the huts were only 4.5 feet, thereby concealing their location from even hundred yards due to tall Phumdis. Only one narrow water channel led to the hideouts which was guarded round the clock.Informing that the vital inputs of this extremely well sited and hidden hideout had been willingly provided by local villagers who are fed up with the extortion, demands and misbehaviour of the UGs, the PRO observed that the locals have expressed a strong desire for peace and tranquillity to prevail in Manipur, free from fear and kidnappings of children. The common people earnestly want that benefits of development and economic upliftment a planned by the elected Government of Manipur. However, this can only be done once the militants give up their gun for peace, the PRO asserted.Attributing the success of this extremely difficult and complex operation to the high levels of training and close co-ordination between the security forces and the Bishnupur Police Commandos, the PRO informed that a number of UGs were injured in the operation.Major General Shakti Gurung and General Officer Commanding 57 Mountain Division were also personally involved in the co-ordinating this operation, the PRO added.Meanwhile, according to information received by the press, today’s operation had been code-named as ‘Raid on confirmed hideouts of KYKL and UNLF’.Mediapersons from Imphal who have gone to get the news were not allowed to proceed further and stopped by police at Keinou and Khwairakpan along Imphal-Churachandpur Road. By the time the media team arrived at Ngaikhong Ma-mang Leikai from where the operation had begun in the af- ternoon, the operation had already been concluded. Army as well as the Police Commandos also did not allow the mediapersons to take photographs. Permission were also not granted to meet any of the police officers including the SP of the district.

KCP (MC) attacks Raj Bhavan

After the Chief Minister’s official complex came under attack with bombs on more than one occasion this year, Raj Bhavan, official residence of the Governor was targeted today with bombs.In a daring attack in the midst of heavy presence of security personnel at the heart of Imphal city, cadres of the proscribed KCP (MC) lobbed two bombs at the Raj Bhavan just near the sentry post manned by CRPF personnel at about 5.35 pm today.This is the second time armed persons attacked the Raj Bhavan. In 1999, unidentified persons hurled a bomb at the Governor’s official complex from the side of Governor’s Road.As there was heavy traffic along the road in front of the Raj Bhavan, most of the people, police deployed around the area and those manning the Raj Bhavan’s main gate thought that it was bursting of tyre. One police personnel who along with some other colleagues were on duty at the Raj Bhavan’s main gate said that they were on duty as usual when he heard a loud sound in the direction of Keishampat. At the moment, one police Gypsy was also parked just beyond the main gate. But on checking a few minutes later, it was found that the sound was of a bomb explosion inside the Raj Bhavan complex.While one bomb exploded near a pond, just about 25 feet away from the sentry post manned by CRPF personnel inside the Raj Bhavan complex and opposite to office of the Higher Education Department at Nityapat Chuthek, another unexploded bomb was found at a nearby spot, informed explosive experts of Manipur Police.The spot where the bomb exploded is about 50 metres away from Raj Bhavan main gate and 250 metres away from the Governor’s residence.Even as there was no casualty in the explosion, police personnel including top ranking officials conducted an intensive search in and around the Raj Bhavan complex for any unexploded bomb.Governor Gurbachan Jagat was not at the Raj Bhavan when the bomb exploded. He left for New Delhi this morning to attend a meeting of the Committee of Governors scheduled for tomorrow.
Know more here

Iraqis demand release of shoe-hurling journalist

BAGHDAD (AP) — Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets Monday to demand the release of a reporter who threw his shoes at President Bush in anger at U.S. policies, as support for the act and the journalist flowed in from across the Arab world.
The protests came as suicide bombers and gunmen targeted Iraqi police, plus U.S.-allied Sunni guards and civilians, in a series of attacks Monday that killed at least 17 people and wounded more than a dozen others, officials said.
The journalist, Muntadhar al-Zeidi, was being held by Iraqi security Monday and interrogated about whether anybody had paid him to throw his shoes at Bush during a press conference Sunday in Baghdad, said an Iraqi official.

Showing the sole of your shoe to someone in the Arab world is a sign of extreme disrespect, and throwing your shoes is even worse. Iraqis whacked a statue of Saddam with their shoes after U.S. Marines toppled it to the ground after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
Al-Zeidi was immediately wrestled to the ground after throwing the shoes, by Iraqi security guards. But the incident raised fears of a security lapse in the heavily guarded Green Zone where the press conference took place. Reporters were repeatedly searched and asked to show identification before entering the compound, which houses al-Maliki's office and the U.S. Embassy.
Meanwhile, newspapers across the Arab world Monday printed front-page photos of Bush ducking the flying shoes, and satellite TV stations repeatedly aired the incident, which was hailed by the president's many critics in the region.

Journalist’s killing condemned, scribes on indefinite strike

Journalist’s killing condemned, scribes on indefinite strikeBy Our Staff ReporterIMPHAL.

Inspite of an agreement between representatives of the JAC, formed in connection with the killing of Konsam Rishi-kanta Singh and the State Government, the print and electronic media under the aegis of All manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) will suspend publication and broadcast of news item for an indefinite period with effect from tomorrow.Decision to cease publication of newspapers from November 20 onwards was adopted at an emergency general body meeting of AMWJU held this afternoon at Manipur Press Club, Major Khul.Among many other resolutions, it was decided to stage sit-in-protest till the culprits involved in shooting death Rishikanta are pulled up or identified.The meeting was convened to deliberate over the future course of action in the aftermath of gunning down of 22-year-old K Ri-shikanta, who was a Junior Sub Editor of the Imphal Free Press daily.Rishikanta’s bullet riddled body was found at near the Langol Hill range second home of the endan- gered brow-antler deer (Sangai) last evening.Taking grim note of constant threat looming large over the journalist community of the State who have to dispense duties in an insecure atmosphere due to the prevailing conflict situation besetting manipur, senior journalists who addressed the meeting pointed out that Rishikanta is the sixth scribe to die an unnatural death.Two journalists working in Churachandpur-based dailies and three others of Imphal-based dailies were shot dead in the past.Conceding that journalists working in a conflict si- tuation like Manipur always face uncertainties the spea-kers also cautioned that as the journalists are wedged in between dichotomy of State and non-State actors the risks are even more.Moreover, the fact that perpetrator/s of the criminal act ignored AMWJU’s standing appeal to either intimate Editor concerned or the scribes’ body in case any media person are found working in violation of norms of journalism, the meeting expressed concern that certain individuals or groups do not understand or acknowledge contributions of the news media to the Manipuri society.Media personnel becoming a soft target of individuals with vested interest also came under sharp scrutiny at the congregation.......click here to know more