Manipur bandh today

Tension after 3 bodies found

Imphal Feb 18 : Tension prevailed in Manipur today, after the dead bodies of Kasom Khulen Sub Divisional Officer Kishan, his driver and another staff were found near Taphou Kuki village on NH-39.

The trio had been abducted by unidentified armed people on 13 February from Ukhrul DC gate in Ukhrul District.

The three bodies were found with their hands tied behind their backs and their heads bearing grievous injuries. A bloody hoe and a medium sized stone ~ apparently used in killing them ~ were found near their bodies.

A Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed against the killings has called a 48-hour statewide bandh from midnight tonight. The JAC has demanded that the culprit be arrested and has refused to take charge of the bodies.

The JAC has blamed the NSCN(IM) for the killings. The JAC representative speaking at a Press conference said it had proof that Kishan and his staff members were killed by NSCN(IM) cadres.

It said, soon after the officer was abducted by the organisation, telephone calls from the Ukhrul DC office informed that Kishan had been taken away by a well known NSCN(IM) functionary in Kishans own government jeep.

The NSCN(IM), however, have denied any involvement in the killings. Condemning the killings spokesperson of the MIP told Newmai News Network that it has ordered an inquiry into the killing and has asked its cadres to book the persons involved. The NSCN(IM) also condemned the killing calling it a terrorist act.

Soon after the news of the killing spread angry locals at Uripok and Yumnam Leikai came out and blocked roads closed down shuttered at shops. Irate locals also took out a rally shouting anti-NSCN(IM) slogans.

The state government called an emergency meeting of the Unified Command which was soon followed up by a Cabinet meeting.

In another development colleagues of Dr. Kishan, all MCS officers converged at the CMs bungalow and submitted a memorandum demanding a CBI inquiry into the killing.