Assailants gun down Moreh ADC; armed men abduct MLA Rajen's father

IMPHAL, February 18: Unidentified gunmen shot dead the ADC of Moreh this evening at about 6.45 at Moreh bazar, said police sources. According to reports received here the slain Moreh ADC, M Chaoba (50) was a resident of Keishamthong Hodam Leirak. He was posted as Moreh ADC only about 4/5 months back, said sources. Prior to the assassination the ADC had received a telephone call at his quarters, said sources and added that he left after receiving the call in his Gypsy along with the driver. The assailants who were apparently waiting for the ADC walked up to the Gypsy at Moreh bazar and pumped one bullet into his head, said sources. On immediate receipt of the report Moreh police rushed to the spot of the incident and found ADC M Chaoba unconscious inside his Gypsy. The grievously injured Chaoba was immediately rushed to Moreh Community Health Centre. However the official succumbed to his injuries after twenty minutes, said sources. Moreh police and 7 Assam Rifles personnel conducted search operations in and around Moreh Township till late in the evening. Police recovered one projectile from inside the Gypsy. The body of the slain official will be brought to RIMS morgue for post mortem tomorrow. Meanwhile unidentified gunmen abducted the septuagenarian father of ex-minister of Agriculture Sorokhaibam Rajen from his Salam residence under Patsoi police station yesterday at about 10 pm. According to family members of the MLA, the gunmen numbering around 14/15 descended upon the house in the night and whisked away the 70-year-old father of the MLA. Family members said while the rest of the gunmen took watch outside the house around 5/6 persons barged into the house and took away the 70-year-old man without saying much. The armed men also hijacked one Maruti Van and a car from the area along with the van driver. The driver was however released at Khaidem located about 3/4 kms away from Salam near the New Cachar road. On immediate receipt of information police force led by high-ranking officials including the IG (L&O) A Romenkumar and Imphal West SP, Dinokumar rushed to the spot and conducted search operations. The operation went on till late today. Speaking to The Sangai Express the Imphal West SP, Dinokumar said the police have established the identity of the militant organisation behind the abduction and added that it is a valley based group. He further said the police is leaving nothing to chance to secure the safe release and added that the police have picked up the trail of the abductors. He said the identity of one of the abductors have been established. The police will raid the hideout carefully to ensure that no harm is done to the abducted man, he added.