IMPHAL, April 16: The Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi, today assured that his government will leave no stone unturned in smoking out the perpetrators of yesterday’s ambush on MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing which left eight dead including two civilians.
The CM was talking to family members of the victims of the ambush at a state function, today at the 1st Manipur Rifles parade ground where the victims were accorded full state honor.
The death toll from the ambush increased from seven to eight with one of the injured identified as retired District Social Welfare Officer, Vaorei Keishing, 65 of Nambasi village Kasom Khullen Sub-division at present staying at Maring Lane, New Checkon, Imphal succumbing to his death late last night at Shija Hospital. He had sustained spinal and head injury from the ambush.
The CM further maintained that the government is ready to help the families of the victims in their sustainability. He further added that family members of the deceased personnel willing to join the armed forces would be provided with a job in the state force according to their merit certificate or provided with liberalize pension according to their wish and also appealed to the families to give their proposal at the earliest.
While calling the ambush as barbaric and an act of cowardice, the state CM assured of finding out the attackers and putting them to task.
Further replying to a query from the media on the feasibility of the involvement of the NSCN IM in the ambush, the CM maintained that there are no official confirmation of the involvement of the NSCN-IM nevertheless the government is doing its best to find the culprits and that the government will take stern action against those involved as per the law, he added.
The mortal remains of the dead victims were accorded with floral tributes and a general salute at the state function held today at the 1st Manipur Rifles parade ground.
Other than the Chief Miister, the function was attended by politicians including Moirang MLA M Prithiviraj and other top officials of the state including the state DGP.
After paying his floral tribute, the Chief Minister further met with the family members of the victims and consoled them.It may be mentioned that armed miscreants laid an ambush at a convoy of Phungyar Assembly constituency’s MLA, Wungnaoshang Keishing killing six security personnel and two civilian and also inflicted injuries to many others.
The ambush occurred yesterday about a half kilometer away from Riha Village at Ukhrul district under Lamlai police station. The MLA was returning from Riha after attending a HIV/AIDS consultancy programme there.
No individual or organizations so far claimed responsible for the incident till the filing of this reports. It is worth mentioning that the Phungyar assembly constituency MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing has been pushing the agenda for the creation of a full-fledged Phungyar district by separating the present Ukhrul district into two.
