Abonmai Murder Case: CM chose to play football instead of taking quick action, says Congress

By Devabrata Dutta 

GUWAHATI: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Working President Keisham Meghachandra has come down heavily upon Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh over the abduction and killing of Athuan Abonmai and demanded his resignation on moral ground.

"CM has apologised to the public and condemned the act himself. Does a CM do that? This had happened for the first time in history. How did this incident take place in the presence of high profile security personnel including Assam Rifles Jawan and a police commando that is also in broad daylight? CM should resign from his position on moral ground," said Keisham Meghachandra.

Athuan Abonmai, former president of the Zeliangrong Baudi, was found shot dead on Wednesday at around 7:30 pm at Pallong village, around 30 km away from Tamenglong district headquarters.

Abonmai, who was a vocal critic of NSCN (IM), went to attend a government program attended by Manipur CM as well. As reported, Abonmai was abducted by 20 unknown persons at around 11:30 am from the gate of the ground where the program was held.

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"Athuan Abonmai was abducted from Apollo Ground, just other side beyond the fence where CM, cabinet ministers and ruling party MLAs were holding an inauguration program for various projects. FIR was filed at the nearest police station right after the incident. CM was aware of the incident yet instead of taking quick action he had chosen to play football in the program. It was not before or way later but right after the abduction incident," Meghachandra said.

He added, "It was not very far where Abonmai was taken after abduction and killed. Had the CM, who holds the Home portfolio as well, acted on time instead of continuing with his program then Abonmai could have been saved from killing. It happened due to pure negligence of the government and CM."

Arai Abonmai, son of Athuan, filed an FIR at the Lamphel police station, alleging that his father Athuan Abonmai was abducted by NSCN (IM) cadres from Apollo ground in Tamenglong headquarters at around 11:30 am.

Though no group has claimed, NSCN (IM) is suspected to be involved in the killing of Abonmai.

On the other hand, apologising for the security lapses, N Biren Singh also suspended at least 16 police personnel over “negligence of duty” during the Tamenglong program on September 22. Suspended police personnel will be investigated and a three-member special committee was constituted to probe into the same under the Chairmanship of IGP (Intelligence) K Radhashyam Singh.

Residents of Machenluang village, native village of Abonmai in Tamei subdivision of Tamenglong district, have denied to the body of Athuan Abonmai until the Manipur government being able to punish the culprit.

The Manipur government has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs for arranging an NIA probe into the killing of Athuan Abonmai recently.

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