Assassination of Moreh SDPO Anand Kumar 9 suspects including 1 Myanmarese held

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 5: Even as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating the assassination of Sub-Divisional Police Officer Chingtham Anand Kumar, nine persons have been arrested in connection with the case, said Chief Minister N Biren Singh in the last session of Assembly today.
The nine suspects include a Myanmar National.
He said this when Congress MLA K Meghachandra called the attention of the Chief Minister, who is also in charge of Home, on the case.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Moreh, Chingtham Anand Kumar was shot dead in Moreh on October 31 last year.
Chingtham Anand Kumar was hit by a long range sniper bullet when he was overseeing the construction of a helipad at Eastern Shine School ground at the border town.
Initially, police had arrested two prime suspects, an ex-Army personnel--Philip Khaikholal Khongsai (43) of Moreh Ward No 8 and Hemkholal Mate (35), chief of K Moulsang village.
Philip Khaikholal Khongsai is an executive member of Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal and leader of Moreh Defence Force which was allegedly set up and trained by the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF).
During the Assembly session today, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said Chingtham Anand Kumar was a dedicated police officer who performed his duty with conviction.
He was a fearless police officer who served the people. The killing of the officer had hurt the sentiments of the people. His demise is a great loss not only for Manipur Police, but also for the State, Biren added.
After Anand Kumar was killed, to solve the issue the State was facing in sending reinforcements to Moreh, Defence and Home Ministry sent a helicopter which could operate at night to fly in police commandos, Army and Paramilitary forces to Moreh.
In the course of the operations carried out to maintain law and order in Moreh, security forces arrested nine suspects in the killing of the police officer, said Biren.
The nine suspects include a person from Myanmar. The NIA was given the case on January 31 this year and the agency re-registered the case on February 9, he said.
Whether the nine suspects arrested are members of militant organisations will be revealed by the NIA after investigation, Biren added.
To strengthen and improve the operation capabilities of the police, Biren said, the Government has procured 10 armoured vehicles which can detect landmines.
Seven of the vehicles have been delivered and the remaining three will arrive within days, he said.
Biren further informed that in addition to the 10 bulletproof/armoured vehicles, the Government is procuring another 20 of such vehicles for use by the police.
The allowance of the Manipur police commando personnel who are in the frontline has been increased by Rs 5,000 while that of the IRB/MR personnel guarding vulnerable areas has been increased by Rs 3,000, Biren said.
The Government is also giving ex-gratia and jobs to next of kin of slain police personnel, he added.
While the son of SDPO Anand Kumar has been given the post of ASI (Assistant Sub-Inspector) in the Manipur Police, his rank may be upgraded. The Government is in discussion on the matter, Biren said.
The Chief Minister further asserted that the Government is taking up sincere efforts to bring back and restore the cosmopolitan structure/character of Moreh by bringing back people of all communities who have been displaced from the border town.
The Government is taking up steps for the return of the displaced folks of both communities (Meitei and Kuki) to their original places, Biren added.