Manipur govt forms SIT to investigate Lilong firing incident; death toll reaches 5

The death toll has now climbed to five, as one of the critically injured victims, Md Abdur Rajaq, succumbed to his injuries at Raj Medicity in Imphal on Wednesday. Rajaq was a prominent member of Anjuman, a local anti-drug organisation.

| Updated: 04 January, 2024 1:59 pm IST

Manipur govt establishes SIT to probe Lilong firing tragedy; death toll climbs to 5

IMPHAL: Following the tragic firing incident in the minority-dominated Lilong area of Manipur’s Thoubal district on Monday evening, the Manipur state government has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

The death toll has now climbed to five, as one of the critically injured victims, Md Abdur Rajaq, succumbed to his injuries at Raj Medicity in Imphal on Wednesday. Rajaq was a prominent member of Anjuman, a local anti-drug organisation.

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In response to the incident, the Joint Action Committee (JAC), representing Lilong residents, predominantly Meitei Pangals (Meitei Muslims), has agreed to claim the bodies for the last rites. This decision came after the JAC and the state government, led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the chief minister’s office on Wednesday.

The MoU includes provisions such as providing a suitable government job to the next of kin of the deceased, financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to each deceased family, Rs 2 lakh to each seriously injured person (expected to remain physically challenged), and Rs 1 lakh to other injured individuals.

*Joint action committee and Manipur govt sign MoU Following Lilong incident; bodies to be claimed for last rites*

The newly formed SIT, mandated to investigate the Lilong firing incident, will be led by Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Md Riyajuddin Shah as chairman. The team includes SDPO N Suresh Singh, Inspector Masood, and sub-inspectors Md Anwar Hussain, S Bhubon Singh, and N Thomas Singh, all serving in the valley district.

An order issued by the district’s senior superintendent of police, Rakesh Balwal, stated that the progress of the investigation must be reported to the Superintendent of Police (SP) twice daily in the morning and evening.

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Chief Minister Biren Singh, after the meeting with Meitei Pangal civil bodies, expressed on Facebook, “We have come to an understanding where the religious leaders and CSOs of the Meitei Pangal community have agreed to take the remains of the victims for their last rites.”

The banned Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) claimed responsibility for the incident, asserting that it was part of a mission to dismantle a drug cartel that had consistently ignored warnings to halt the drug trade.