IMPHAL, June 21: Reacting to his reported involvement in the whisking away of a suspected KNF cadre injured in a gun fight from a hospital in Imphal, IFC Minister Ngamthang Haokip has today clarified that he had no hand whatsoever regarding the issue.
Speaking to media persons at his office chamber this morning, the Minister said he had no idea about any militant cadre admitted at the Kuki Christian hospital, Deulahland, but he was only visiting a relative who is a doctor at the hospital, whom he met outside the hospital and as such he did not step inside the hospital.
It may be mentioned that a cadre of the Kuki National Front (P) cadre with a bullet injury on his right elbow believed to have sustained during a shootout with troops of the 15 AR on June 19 was admitted at the hospital and was reportedly whisked away by MLA Nemcha Kipgen in the evening yesterday.
The Minister said that he had not even met MLA Nemcha Kipgen or any other MLA during his short visit to the hospital.
The KNF cadre identified as Sikholen Kipgen alias Brendal was admitted at the Kuki Christian Hospital, Deulahland with a bullet injury on his right elbow purportedly during a shootout between KNF cadres and the 15 AR at Bongbal Khullen on June 19. However, he had entered his name during admission to the hospital as Thangboi Kipgen (27), son of Satai Kipgen of Haibung Khul, Senapati, a corporal of the SoO signatory KNF (P).
When asked by a group of media persons during his stay at the hospital yesterday, he had said that he was injured when a team of AR suddenly attacked his group of around 10 cadres which he was leading at the time at Bongbal Khullen.
He said they were resting when the AR team suddenly attacked them and said he was injured in AR firing though he managed to escape from the place.
Meanwhile, state police officers who had visited the hospital yesterday had instructed the hospital authorities not to discharge the militant cadre without the consent of the police, however later in the evening, MLA Nemcha Kipgen had come and allegedly whisked him away from the hospital.