The two main suspects in the killing of SDPO Chingtham Anand Kumar, viz., Philip Khaikholal Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate, have confessed their involvement in the killing of the SDPO.
Subsequently, they have been remanded into judicial custody until February 12, 2024. The two accused are still in custody at the designated temporary jail at Assam Rifles KLP in Moreh where they are lodged along with seven other Myanmar militants.
Their involvement was confirmed by the Manipur police on their social media X (formerly Twitter) handle which posted about the “Clarification on article “Manipur Unrest” published by http://Scroll.in on 31 January 2024”, on Thursday.
The post said that while a sense of normalcy was slowly settling in Moreh, an MPS officer, Chingtham Anand Kumar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Moreh was shot dead on October 31, 2023 by armed Kuki militants while he was on duty overseeing the cleaning of the ground of Eastern Shine School for construction of helipad, jointly by State force and BSF. Following the death of the Sub Divisional Police Officer, the Security forces launched joint search operations in Moreh and adjoining areas to nab the culprits responsible for the crime.
It added that on January 15, 2024, two persons namely, Philip Khaikholal Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate were arrested for possession of arms and ammunition by police. They were produced before the concerned Court, Moreh and they were remanded for 15 days police custody. During police custody, on interrogation they revealed that they were involved in the killing of the SDPO, Moreh. Accordingly, the IO filed an application for formal arrest of the duo in connection with the case of the killing of Anand Chingtham. The court allowed for the formal arrest of the duo.
Contrary to the Scroll report, the police clarified that in the early morning of January 17, 2024, heavily armed Kuki militants launched further attacks on the state police forces using sophisticated weapons including RPG launchers, bombs and long-range assault rifles killing two police personnel and injuring seven others at Moreh.
Addressing the demands of some organisations for removal of state forces from Moreh, it is reiterated that the state government has responsibility to ensure law-and-order and deployment of forces in any part of Manipur including Moreh, which is inhabited by multiple communities as in any other area in the state.
Regarding allegations of security forces setting ablaze houses of civilians on fire, an FIR case has been registered into the incident and investigation is on. The investigation so far has not revealed any evidence that the arson was carried out by any of the Security forces. It may be mentioned that there were attacks from heavily armed Kuki militants and miscreants using rockets and bombs in many places of Moreh from early morning on January 17 including in the areas where the incident of fire took place and security forces engaged with them throughout the day. The unfortunate fire incident was doused with the help of Fire Tenders, security forces and the locals, it added.
Despite the challenges, the Manipur Police underscored their commitment to working tirelessly around the clock to restore peace and maintain law and order in Moreh.
