GUWAHATI: A 31-year-old Meitei man, who had gone to visit his Kuki fiancée in Churachandpur, was abducted and shot dead on camera on Wednesday evening, triggering outrage and fresh tension across Manipur on Thursday.Police said the victim, M Rishikanta (31), was kidnapped by armed miscreants from his fiancée’s residence at Tuibong in Churachandpur district around 6.30pm on Wednesday. He was found dead near Natjang village in the district, hours later. Though the perpetrators have not been identified yet, a case has been registered, and operations have been launched to track those responsible.
Family members said Rishikanta worked as a technical engineer at a firm in Nepal. He had visited his fiancée ahead of Christmas and had been staying at her home in Churachandpur since Dec 19.A video of his last moments, in which he was shot twice despite pleading for his life, was released by the perpetrators and circulated widely on social media. The video carried the message “No Peace, No Popular Government”.Protests were reported on Thursday at Kakching Khunou, Rishikanta’s native village in Kakching district, where locals blocked the Wabagai-Sugnu road to condemn the killing.Reports also said the couple had taken permission from the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), an umbrella body of Kuki insurgent groups, for his stay in Churachandpur. The KNO denied having any knowledge of the visit and any involvement in his death.A post-mortem examination was conducted on Thursday in Churachandpur. Family members identified the body virtually through a video call as they could not travel to Churachandpur. Kakching SP L Priyadarshini met the family and facilitated the identification process. Sources said the body was to be handed over to Kakching Police on Thursday.Manipur Lok Bhavan stated that Governor AK Bhalla informed a delegation of Joint Action Committee led by Lok Sabha MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijamth that the case is being handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for a thorough and impartial investigation.The JAC formed over the killing called on the governor and submitted a memorandum conveying concerns and sought appropriate action in connection with the unfortunate death of Rishikanta Singh.“Governor further informed the delegation that intensive combing operations have been launched since last night to apprehend those responsible, with coordinated efforts involving both state and central forces. These operations are being undertaken on a war footing,” the Lok Bhavan stated.The JAC also called for measures to prevent similar incidents, urged intensive operations against armed Kuki militants in the hills, and demanded disciplinary action against the Churachandpur SP and central forces deployed in the area, alleging failure to take preventive steps.
