COMMUNAL forces led by the BJP and insurgency problems are the two major challenges before the State Congress (I) in bringing about development in the state, former Chief Minister and senior Congressman Rishang Keishing has said. The Rajya Sabha MP pointed out that coalition politics was gaining strength in India and therefore the stability of the ruling Secular Progressive Front (SPF) was increasing day by day.

“Members of theSPF Govt should stand united through thick and thin and help in completing its full term by any means,’’ Rishang said. Rishang urged the Congressmen of the State to put in maximum efforts to win the two Lok Sabha seats in the State. “Even though regional parties have been responsible for sowing the seeds of insurgency in the State, they are being slowly discarded by the insurgent groups,’’ he said and added that Congress should use this opportunity to strengthen the party in the State. Referring to the Opposition’s recent attempt to bribe a particular Minister of the SPF Govt to switch sides, he said due to the alertness of the members of the Congress-led SPF the attempt was unsuccessful.

The Rajya Sabha MP also urged Chief Minister O Ibobi to treat all the members of the SPF Govt equally irrespective of their party, religion and caste for the smooth functioning of the State machinery. NSCN (IM) apprehneds Elizabeth’s killer The cold-blooded murder of eight-year old Lungnila Elizabeth, daughter of Manipur Minister, Francis Ngajokpa, last November, had sent shockwaves across the nation. It had also put a question mark on the security apparatus in state where the militants have gained a upper hand over the security forces.

Violence has become order of the day in Manipur and the government has failed miserably in its duty of maintaing law and order in the State. The various terrorist groups are running parallel governments in the State. With the NSCN (IM) claiming to have captured the kingpin of the gang, who murdered Lungnila Elizabeth, the daughter from the Burma camp area of Dimapur, it seems the culprit could finally be brought to book. Elizabeth was kidnapped from Imphal on November four last year and her decomposed body was recovered inside a pond at Sadokpam Leikai on November 12.

NSCN(IM) deputy kilonser (minister) of information and publicity ministry Karibo Chawang, in a statement, last month, said the alleged kingpin, identified as James Kuki alias Letsel Haokip, after giving a slip to the Manipur police, was hiding with his third wife in the Burma Camp area of Dimapur, where he was arrested.  Kuki hails from Matiyang village in Churachandpur district of Manipur. He was nabbed alongwith his third wife Lisngkiuthon and another Lady Ajuiliu, who were giving him shelter. The culprits had been interrogated by the outfit’s crime cell, Mr Chawang claimed.

The NSCN(IM) had carried out its operation to apprehend him and the culprit was arrested with the help of some students organisations. The ‘kilonser’ said ‘’although the Manipur government had appealed to the NSCN(IM) to hand over James Kuki to them, the outfit would deliver justice as per the laws of the organisation’’. The Nagaland government has urged the NSCN(IM) to hand over the alleged killer of Elizabeth to the Manipur Government.

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