Imphal, june 30: In what could be termed as historic verdict, the CBI, Special court, Patialya house, New Delhi, has today finally sentenced Hopeson Ningshen, a self-styled Lt Colonel of the Naga rebel group, NSCN (IM) life imprisonment for brutal murder of Dr Thingnam Kishan, the then SDO of Kasom Khullen and his two subordinate staffs, namely Revenue Mandal Yumnam Token and driver Aribam Rajen.
Mr. Ningsen was sentenced life imprisonment and fine of Rs.10,000 in default of payment of fine rigorous punishment for six months under U/S 120B IPC, Rigorous imprisonment for seven years and a fine of Rs.5000 in default of Payment of rigorous punishment for three months under U/S 302 IPC read with new section 120 B, Life imprisonment and a fine of Rs.10,000 to default of payment of fine rigorous imprisonment for six months under U/S 364A read with new section 120B IPC and life imprisonment and a fine of Rs.10,000 in default of payment of the fine rigorous imprisonment for six months under U/S 302 read with new section 120B IPC. All sentences will fun concurrently.
The historic verdict was pronounced by the court of VK Gupta, Additional sessions judge.
The hearing of the case began at 10.30 am this morning at the CBI special court and the sentences for Mr. Ningsen was pronounced at 4 pm.
The JAC formed against the murder of Dr. Kishan and his two sub ordinate staffs, while welcoming the verdict of the court, said that the offences committed by the IM’s cadre Hopeson Ningsen is punishable by death. However, the court sentenced him life imprisonment when the defence counsel pleaded the court for lenient punishment.
With the case of Dr. Kishan murder case is over, the JAC is too dissolved from now on. We sincerely thank those who helped to punish the murder under the law of the land , said Chairman of the JAC talking to reporters at Mapari Ningsingkol, Uripok.
It may be mentioned that Dr Kishan, an MSC officer of the 2007 batch, who was then posted as SDO of Kasom Khullen in Ukhrul district, was abducted along with six other people including Revenue Mandal Token and driver Rajen by Hopeson Ningshen and his coterie from Ukhrul district headquarters on February 13, 2009.After three of the abducted persons namely Ramthing Shinglai, Ramshing Siro and Kapangkhui Jajo were released, Dr Kishan, Token and Rajen were found bludgeoned to death near Luphrabi Bridge at Taphou Kuki village located about 7 kms to the south of Senapati district headquarters along National Highway-2 (Imphal-Dimapur road) four days after on February 17 .
The sheer brutality and savagery of the triple murder had sent shock waves across the State and beyond with people crying for justice. Taking serious note of the killings, the Government of Manipur convened an emergency Cabinet meeting on February 17, 2009 itself.
Initially, NSCN (IM) tried to wash off its hands from the triple killings, maintaining that it was an individual act and termed Hopeson Ningshen a black sheep of the outfit.
However, following intense public pressure, particularly from the side of Naga Hoho and Eastern Naga People’s Organisation, NSCN (IM) was forced to hand over Hopeson Ningshen to the Naga Hoho, which in turn handed him over to the the CBI at Dimapur on May 28, 2009 .
