Imphal: The Manipur government on Friday announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the 29-year-old Meitei man who was shot dead by suspected Kuki militants in Churachandpur district.
Singh, who belonged to the Meitei community, was abducted along with his fiancée from their home in the Tuibong area of the district by the suspected United Kuki National Army (UKNA) militants on January 21, officials said.
Singh was subsequently shot dead at Natjang village under Henglep police station on Jan 21, while his fiancée was later released.
His body was later recovered near Natjang the same night. At the time of the incident, he was visiting his fiancée, Chingnu Haokip, who belongs to the Kuki tribal community.
Manipur home commissioner N Ashok Kumar, in a statement issued on Friday, conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and announced the ex gratia.
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla said that the state government had handed over the case to the NIA for a thorough and impartial probe.
The UKNA is a non-signatory to the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement signed in 2008 between the Centre, the Manipur government, and 23 Kuki-Zo militant groups.
Following the killing, intensive combing operations were launched in Natjang and other areas of Churachandpur, though no arrests or seizures have been reported so far. The state government has handed over the case to the NIA for a thorough and impartial probe.
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A joint action committee led by Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, along with Congress MLAs Thokchom Lokeshwar Singh and Kangujam Ranjit Singh, accompanied by Singh’s family members, met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Thursday (January 22) and submitted a memorandum seeking urgent action.
