The Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur; the Director General of Police, Manipur and the Superintendent of Police, Tamenglong District, have been listed as respondents.
TFM News Service
The Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has sought present status of the investigation in connection with the abduction and brutal murder of advisor and former president Zeliangrong Baudi (AMN) Athaun Abonmai.
Taking up the case, the commission asked the chief secretary, Government of Manipur and the director general of police, Manipur as to why a thorough enquiry shall not be conducted in order to ascertain the facts and circumstance leading to the death of Athaun Abonmai on September 22 after he was being abducted from Tamenglong District Headquarters.
The commission took up the case after one Keisam Pradipkumar (53) filed a complaint under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 for causing a full-fledged enquiry into the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Athuan Abonmai and to identify responsibilities on the persons responsible for his death and to recommend measures for preventing recurrence of such incident in future.
The Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur; the Director General of Police, Manipur and the Superintendent of Police, Tamenglong District, Manipur, have been listed as respondents.
The commission also asked the respondents to submit the present status of the investigation in C/W the FIR No. 0(9)2021 Lamphel P/S U/S 365/400/34 IPC corresponding to FIR No. 4(9)2021 TML P/S under 3651 400/34 IPC.
The complainant in his complaint petition raised serious questions, which the commission observed are required to be answer in the “mysterious circumstance” of abduction of killing of Athuan Abonmai: –
(i) What action was taken up by the Lamphel Police Station in Imphal after receiving the FIR from the son of the victim?
(ii) Did not the Lamphel Police Station report to the concerned higher officers and concerned district police?
(iii) Why the state intelligence at the Tamenglong Headquarter failed to know the incident of abduction and absence of Athuan Abonmai, who is a high profile civil and political leader and also a key person for hosting the state chief minister, during the whole programme, even the football match?
(iv) Did the top police officers try to keep the chief minister who is also home minister of the state blind about the incident till the end of the programme?
The petitioner also mentioned that the killing of Athuan Abonmai after he was abducted by suspected militants of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, NSCN (I-M) in broad daylight in front of the security personnel from the Pologround of Tamenglong Headquarter has shocked and saddened the people of Manipur.
“The kidnapping and killing of Athuan Abonmai from a tight security zone where Manipur Chief Minister, Ministers, top officials of civil and police of the state were present besides tight security presence raise pertinent questions concerning state’s security and governance in the area”.
The petitioner further submitted that the kidnapping and subsequent killing of Athuan Abonmai, who stood tall and bold working for development, coexistence, unity and integrity of Manipur show the total failure of the state intelligence and absence of security for the citizens of the state and governance in areas beyond the State capital while the abductors and killers send a message that they can attack whoever, wherever, whenever they want and eliminate those who work for development, coexistence, unity and integrity of Manipur; and stand against their agenda.