IMPHAL, July 15: Intelligence reports have confirmed that Ngalangzar Malue was killed in an ambush by NSCN (IM) cadres on July 12, 2014, said Home minister Gaikhangam on the floor of the State Assembly today.
It is also confirmed that many more individuals are on the outfit’s hitlist, he added.
The minister’s declaration came three days after the former vice chairman of the Ukhrul Autonomous District Council was killed in an ambush at Finch Corner, Ukhrul.
Earlier the NNN had reported that the NSCN (IM) has disowned the killing and that it will not remain mute spectators to the State forces intruding into the regional office.
Gaikhangam was responding to a calling attention moved by Opposition leader I Ibohalbi on the ambush.
The Home minister continued that the NSCN (IM) has killed hundreds of individuals since the 1980’s.
Resounding what the Chief Minister had exhorted yesterday inside the Assembly, Gaikhangam who is also the deputy Chief Minister said the government will take action against those involved in killing innocent people of Manipur.
The tolerance limit has been crossed and the killing of blood brothers can’t bring any good, he told the House.
“We must strongly condemn the killing of ADC member Ngalangzar Malue who was unarmed, without any provocation or warning.”
It has also been confirmed after the arrest of the eight NSCN (IM) cadres along with weapons and other items, that the outfit was involved in the ambush, he continued.
However, investigation is in the initial stage and progressing now, Gaikhangam said.
Earlier while moving the calling attention, Ibohalbi had wondered whether the NSCN (IM)’s intelligence network was better than that of the government’s.
He said since the State intelligence had failed to get any input beforehand of the ambush, it can be drawn that the NSCN )IM)’s intelligence network is more accurate than that of the Manipur CID.
Ibohalbi also asked as to why the government has failed to declare NSCN (IM) as an unlawful outfit considering the series of anti-social activities carried out by the outfit including a series of killing, kidnapping, extortion and assault till date.
In the last 17 years or so, the outfit has killed many individuals including former Manipur Chief Minister Yangmasho Shaiza, he said.
Asserting that Ngalangzar Malue was killed in an ambush at a place between two Assam Rifles posts which were just about 400 meters from the spot on either sides, he asked if the army and AR are posted in the hills for picnic.
He further raised the issue that even though the cease-fire between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) is only in Nagaland, the Manipur State force has captured an open designated camp of the outfit from the State following a raid according to newspaper reports.
Ibohalbi also stated that the State government need to know the status of the peace-talk and whether the NSCN (IM) can killed anyone according to its whims
