Correspondent
IMPHAL, September 10
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]nnouncing Rs 5 lakhs ex-gratia and a suitable job to the next kin of the deceased commando, the state government today paid full state honours to the police commando killed in an ambush by suspected NSCN-IM cadres near lower Hundung, about 70 km north of Imphal in Ukhrul district yesterday morning.
The mortal remains of the slain commando personnel Thotyo Keishing (29) son KS Salmon of Riha Village wrapped in Indian tricolour were brought to 1st battalion Manipur Rifles complex in Imphel where State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam accompanied by the council of ministers, Deputy Speaker MK Preshow, MLAs, Principal Secretary (Home), Dr Suresh Babu, DGP Manipur Saheed Ahmed and top police officers offered wreaths to the departed soul. Besides giving a gun salute by a contingent of the 1st MR personnel, a two minute silence was also observed during the gathering which was attended by family members of the departed police personnel.Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh responding to questions by the media on the sideline of the day’s ceremony said the government decided to thin out the state forces with the improvement of the situation in Ukhrul and subsequent requirement for the security arrangement along highways in the state.
He however added that the government is also closely monitoring the situation of Ukhrul town on a daily basis. The state government will act on it whenever there is any necessary. The redeployment of security forces will depend on the situation, he added. Earlier the state authority deployed around 400-500 police commando, Manipur Rifles and Indian Reserve Battalion personnel in Ukhrul district headquarters a day after the killing of Ngalangzar Malue, an autonomous district council member of Ukhrul in an ambush on July 12 this year, besides imposing prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr PC in the hill town. However the prohibitory order was withdrawn on September 7. Yesterday’s serial ambushes occurred when the state police teams were returning to Imphal. Later Chief Minister and Deputy Chief minister also visited the injured Manipur police commando personnel Kh Amuthoi (33) of Kakching Khunou and Khupminlian(29) of Churachandpur at the JNIMS hospital today. The state has decided to give sum of Rs 1 lakh each to the injured police commandos.
