Manipur govt forms SIT to probe Lilong firing; death toll hits 5
Manipur government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to inquire into Monday evening’s firing in the minority-dominated Lilong area in Thoubal district even as the death toll in the incident rose to five.
Md Abdur Rajaq, who sustained critical bullet injuries, passed away at a private hospital in Imphal on Wednesday. A Lilong resident, Rajaq was a key functionary of Anjuman, a local anti-drug body.
On the other hand, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed by residents of Lilong, a predominantly Meitei Pangal (Meitei Muslims) dominated region, agreed to claim the bodies to perform the last rites.
They agreed to claim the bodies after inking a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government in the presence of chief minister N Biren Singh at his office complex here on Wednesday.
The MoU, among other things, agreed to provide a suitable government job to each of the next of kin of the five deceased and the three seriously injured who are likely to remain physically challenged, Rs 10 lakh each to the deceased families, Rs 2 lakh each to the seriously injured and another Rs 1 lakh each to other injured persons.
According to an order signed by the district’s senior superintendent of police, Rakesh Balwal, the SIT is to be headed by Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Md Riyajuddin Shah. Sub Divisional Police Officer, N Suresh Singh, Inspectors Masood and sub inspectors Md Anwar Hussain, S Bhubon Singh and N Thomas Singh, all serving in the valley district, are members of the probe panel.
The order stated that the progress of investigation should be apprised to the SP twice daily –– in the morning and evening.
Biren Singh, who led his government at the meeting with the Meitei Pangal civil
