Central agency to probe assassination of Manipur ADC member

Our Correspondent IMPHAL, Sept 13 [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he investigation into the killing of Ukhrul ADC member Ngalangzar Malue and a police commando Thotyo Keishing, in two separate ambushes by well armed unidentified persons in Manipur’s Ukhrul district are likely to be taken up by a central agency. A decision has been taken in this regard by the chief minister O Ibobi Singh chaired state cabinet meeting on Friday night, according to M Okendro, Minister of Education and Consumers Affairs and Food & Public Distribution department, who is also the spokesperson of the government. As per the decision, the State cabinet has today decided to hand over the both the killing cases to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).Conveying this to media, spokesman Okendro said the cabinet decided to hand over the cases to the NIA in order to take up concrete actions regarding the incidents by the State government. ADC member Ngalangzar was killed near Finch Corner along Imphal-Ukhrul road by armed unidentified persons on July 12. Ngalangzar’s driver and his nephew sustained injury in the said incident. Similarly well armed unidentified persons led two ambushes on State security forces while the team was returning from Ukhrul along the same Imphal-Ukhrul route on September 9 wherein police personnel Thotyo were killed while two of his colleagues sustained injuries. The spokesman also added that in this regard, the State government will approach the Ministry of Home Affairs for necessary action. He said the Cabinet has also decided to give Rs 5 lakh to the deceased’s family as ex-gratia, and Rs 1 lakh each to those injured personnel.