Assam Rifles Major accused of killing civilianKpi rises in uproar over alleged murder

Our Correspondent
KANGPOKPI, Jun 5 : A 29 year old civilian and a father of four children was allegedly killed by a Major of the Assam Rifles last night.
The deceased identified as Mangboilal Lhouvum of Chalwa village in T Waichong sub-division of Kangpokpi was allegedly shot dead by Major Alok Sathe, post commander of 44 Assam Rifles last night.
Enraged over the alleged killing, men and women of Twilang area stormed the 44 AR outpost and torched two vehicles of the Assam Rifles including one Gypsy and one 407 Tata. In the morning it was reportedly found that two AK rifles of the Assam Rifles inside the Gypsy were also burnt down during the arson.
Major Alok Sathe is in police custody at Kangpokpi police station now.
Speaking to media persons the victim's father Sehlam Lhouvum alleged that Major Alok Sathe with his jawan Rifleman Amar and two others in civil dress in a civil vehicle with service weapon conducted an operation at Chalwa village last night at around 9.
He continued that his son Mangboilal Lhouvum was first given alcohol and brought onto the roadside and shot while adding that he was carried to PHC T Waichong village in critical condition but the doctor had to refer him to District Hospital Kangpokpi.
However, despite all efforts he succumbed to his injuries before reaching Kangpokpi near Chawangkining, he added.
The deceased is survived by his wife Neikhochong Lhouvum and four children. He was the sole bread earner of the family working as a helper of a Shaktiman driver.
It may be mentioned that the 44 AR E Coy outpost Banglabung is located at about 48 Kms from Kangpokpi district headquarters and Chalwa village is located at around 55 Kms from the district headquarters while the distance between 44 AR E Coy outpost at Gelnel village (Banglabung) and Chalwa village is around 10 Kms.
The wife of the deceased, Neikhochong Lhouvum, while speaking to media persons at Kangpokpi said that the couple went for jhum work in the day time and returned in the afternoon and after having food her husband went to visit a neighbour's house.
Gunshot was heard in the village and after a few minutes “I was informed that my husband was lying grievously injured on the road and I immediately rushed to the spot only to find him in a critical condition,” she added.
The young mother further said “my husband had no connection with any militant outfit and he was the sole bread earner of the family.”
She added, “while we were evacuating him to Kangpokpi the AR personnel at Thonglang Check Post detained us for almost half an hour again despite knowing the emergency situation.”
She pleaded for justice.
Civil society organizations of Kangpokpi district under the aegis of Kuki Inpi immediately rushed to spot to take stock of the situation. However, tension erupted once again after the civil police allegedly refused to arrest the alleged murderer of Mangboilal Lhouvum.
Thangminlen Kipgen, general secretary, Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi District said that the AR high authority claimed the Major cannot be arrested because of AFSPA and he is a Central Government employee apart from being an army officer. The fact however is that Major Alok Sathe is a murderer who went to the place in a civil dress with his four men on his personal work not on duty and snatched away an innocent life, a father of four children, he charged.
Kipgen continued that an army officer in civil clothes out on a mission in a civil vehicle appears to be a premeditated act and “we firmly believe that the murder of Mangboilal Lhouvum was also premeditated.”
"Major Alok shot me" were the last words of Mangboilal Lhouvum before succumbing to his injuries asserted Thangminlen Kipgen while adding that after the firing the victim was alive for another 3/4 hours but unfortunately passed away.
"It was the personal testimony of the deceased that he was shot at by Major Alok of 44 AR Gelnel Banglabung outpost", he added.
In a viral video, the deceased speaking in a local dialect said that he was shot by Banglabung outpost Commander Major Alok after giving him alcohol.
After a heated confrontation between the security forces and the civil society organizations, Kangpokpi police led by Addl.SP (Ops) and OC Chalwa Police Station took the AR Major into custody and brought him to Kangpokpi police station.
Meanwhile, it was reported that talks over the alleged murder of Mangboilal Lhouvum was held in the presence of the local MLA, Brigadier Arora, Commander 22 Sector Assam Rifles, and the CSOs.
Meanwhile, the body of Mangboilal Lhouvum has been deposited at RIMS Morgue for post mortem by Kangpokpi police this morning.
Another source informed that in connection with killing, the local MLA N Kayisii rushed to the village to take stock of the situation and held a meeting with the locals.
In the meeting with the local MLA, the local CSOs demanded justice and appropriate action against the culprit while the local MLA assured that he will do whatever is possible to deliver justice to the victim.
In connection with the incident, Chief Minister N Biren Singh through the local MLA assured to give befitting punishment to the wrongdoer and to extend all possible help to the bereaved family.
Meanwhile condemnations have  poured in from various quarters.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur condemned the killing of an innocent civilian in the highest term and shared pain and grief of the bereaved family.
KIM also urged the authority concerned to take appropriate action and deliver justice without delay to the victim's family.
Thadou Students' Association Sadar Hills also expressed strong resentment and condemnation over the alleged murder of an innocent civilian and conveyed its readiness to support any movement for delivering justice to the victim's family. The local bodies of Kangpokpi town also expressed strong condemnation over the killing of Mangboilal Lhouvum and demanded befitting action against the culprit.