Father killed, son lives to tell tale of horror

IMPHAL, Mar 8: Unidentified armed men of about five attacked a farm house in the intervening night of march 7-8 near Tuithapi village and thrashed a 58 year-old man to death besides wounding his 20-year-old son. Tension built-up at Zou Veng area of the district headquarters in the aftermath of the killing, however subsided in late evening after police barricaded the area and convinced a large gathering return to their respective homes. prior to dispersing from the said area stone were pelted at selective homes and slogans shouted.Police sources said the father-son duo was attacked at around 12:30 am when they were deep in sleep. After a baton brawl that ensued for sometime, T Vungkhanthang (58) of Zenhang Lamka was rendered unconscious while his son, Tualbiaklian managed to escape with injuries including a smashed finger and alerted others. Vungkhanthang, according to hospital sources was brought with critical wounds and barely alive, but succumbed soon after at around 4 am. Tualbiaklian contended that he along with his father, a serving male nurse in the district hospital here, stayed at their farm house located adjacent to the Khuga river and about a quarter mile from their village. When he heard some strange sound deep in the night his father was already outside battling with their attackers. He immediately rushed outside with an iron rod to assist his father but he was already surrounded and attacked from all directions. “I also immediately launched strike at them but knowing that I was fighting a losing battle, I made an attempt to escape as my dad was already lying unconscious on the ground,” the source quoted the injured son as saying and adding, “they chased me but failed to grab, as I ran for help I can still hear my father being attacked.” he reached the first house from their farm that belongs to one Vialzakham.

Highwaymen loot bus, stone another

IMPHAL, Mar 2: Unidentified armed persons looted the driver of an Imphal-bound passenger bus at gun-point near Chumukedia in Nagaland today even as another passenger bus was pelted with stones by unidentified miscreants smashing its wind shield at Tadubi yesterday.According to information received by the press, the passenger bus ‘Rajdhani Express’ bearing registration no. MN01-1635 was coming from Guwahati when the unidentified armed persons looted Rs 9,700 from the bus driver and helpers at gun point at a spot known as Half Mile along National Highway 39 and falling under the jurisdiction of Chumukedia Police Station in Dimapur district of Nagaland at around 3 am today. The passenger bus left Guwahati for Imphal around 4 pm yesterday.The looters were clad in civilian dresses but armed with AK-Rifles and carbine.While two of them holding AK-Rifles were standing on guard on either sides of the road, one who was holding a carbine stood in front of the road and stopped the bus.As soon as the bus stopped, one of the armed persons climbed up and demanded the driver to pay Rs 5000 while pointing the gun at him. The armed person also asked the driver to arrange the money from among the passengers if he (the driver) did not have the demanded amount in his possession.While taking amount the demanded money from the pocket, the armed snatched the entire amount, i.e. Rs 9,700. The looters also slapped the handyman of the bus on his face twice.After the incident, a report had been lodged with the Nezugate police check post and subsequent to the message of the report given to the Chumukedima Police Station by the Nagaland police personnel present at the Nezugate check post, the driver was taken to the police station for recording his statement. Perhaps, as a consequent of the message relayed by the police station, the ill-fated passenger bus which arrived here at around 3 pm today had not been stopped by any check post for entry all along its returning journey.However, the State police have maintained that no report of looting the passenger bus has been received.It may be recalled here that similar incident of looting 10 passenger buses coming to Imphal from Nagaland by unidentified armed persons at around 4.30 am of February 15 had been reported by this paper.Meanwhile, a bus of the Mega Tours and Travels bearing registration no. MN01-1075 reportedly suffered damaged when uniden- tified miscreants pelted stone at Tadubi in Senapati at around 4 am yesterday.According to information received from the ticketing counter of the travel agency here, the wind shields of the bus have been damaged in the attack which occurred while coming to Imphal from Mao.

Gypsy found...the poser is, is it the late SDO’s vehicle ?

IMPHAL, Feb 18 : A white coloured Maruti Gypsy suspected to belong to the late SDO of Kasom Khullen was recovered today by a patrolling team of Assam Rifles near a gorge between Mahadev and Litan on the Imphal Ukhrul road.The vehicle has been handed over to the police for verification. Our Ukhrul correspondent reports that the said vehicle has been towed to the district headquarters, but the number plate of the said vehicle is MNO3P/0620, which is the registration number of a Maruti van registered at Senapati. However the final result can only be known once the chassis and engine numbers are confirmed. The number plate of the Gypsy used by the late SDO is MNO4-5799, chassiss number 188307, said a police source.

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