Forest officer shot dead at Langol

Imphal, March 21: The district forest officer of Thoubal district, Kakai Haokip, 45, was gunned down by unidentified unknown persons suspected to be Kuki militants this morning at his quarters located at the Langol National Games village, zone III. Family sources said the killers, who were two in number, came to the quarter on a bicycle this morning at around 7:30 am, and spoke with the deceased Kakai Haokip on the verendah. After about 15 minutes conversation, when Kakai tried to go inside the house, one of the youths pulled out a handgun and shot him dead. The two assailants fled on their bicycle, and were later whisked away by a third youth on a motorcycle. Family sources said that the same two youths had come yesterday evening asking for Kakai, but left after being told that he had not yet returned from his office. The youths reportedly spoke in Kuki dialect. The sources said they had no idea of the motive behind the killing. The chief minister of Manipur, O Ibobi, informing the state Assembly of the killing of Kakai Haokip during Zero Hour today, strongly condemned the brutal murder, and said efforts were being made to trace and book the culprits. Stating that the government shared the anguish of the bereaved family, he added that necessary steps would be taken for providing assistance to the family. Meanwhile, the Kuki Movement for Human Rights, Manipur has submitted a memorandum to the chief minister urging him to book the culprits who murdered Kakai Haokip. Stating that such senseless killing of people at cold blood must be stopped at all cost, the human rights body stated the government must arrest the culprits immediately so to restore the confidence of the public. Zone III (PWD sector) Welfare Committee, National Games Village, Meitei Langol, Imphal also condemned die brutal murder of Kakai Haokip. Kuki Inpi Manipur also urged the government to take up necessary actions to book the perpetrators.