Mourners and businessmen on the way to Dimapur SP office during the funeral procession of late Md. Israr, a businessman who was kidnapped for ransom and murdered on Thursday, May 12. (Caisii Mao Photo)
DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (MExN): Barely a week after police successfully rescued two abducted hostages on May 4 last, another kidnapping saga rocked Dimapur on Thursday, May 12. Regrettably, this time the hostage did not return alive from the hands of the abductors who the police confirmed to be NSCN (IM) cadres, including a Bihari.
The latest case of abduction, subsequently turning gory had taken place on the morning of May 10 when one businessman – Md. Israr was taken captive by unidentified persons. The deceased hostage was abducted from Burma Camp, near Belhos Nursing Home. A ransom of Rs. three crore was then demanded from the family by the abductors for the release which was later, negotiated down to Rs. 16.5 lakh. The transaction was supposed to take place on the evening of May 11 at 3rd Mile (NH 29), near the Chekiye village gate. Meanwhile, the police got whiff of the arrangement and deployed undercover SoT personnel.
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According to a source close to the deceased, as was directed by the abductors, two relatives of the hostage went to 3rd Mile to complete the transaction. When they reached the place, one person said to be one of the abductors approached them. To the surprise of both sides, SoT personnel sprung into action, apprehending the abductor. The transaction was a failure. The arrested was identified by the police as a self-styled “major” in the NSCN (IM), one Rosou Rhi. The police monitored the transaction calls from the abductors by tracking the mobile numbers.
Based on the statement of the arrested, the police were led to a farmhouse in Tenyiphe I, 7th Mile, where the hostage was believed to have been held by the other captors. However, the hostage had already been shifted to another location. A search and rescue operation was launched which assisted by the public of the nearby villages till midnight but to no avail.
The lifeless body of the deceased Md. Israr was found at a place at 7th Mile, Tenyiphe II village near the ESSAR petrol pump in the early morning hours of May 12 by residents. He was blindfolded with hands tied at the back.
A press release from the Superintendent of Police, Dimapur stated that Israr was believed to have been killed at around 1:30 am. “Eyewitness recounted that they saw three persons moving about near the area at around midnight past suspected to be the abductors and gunshot was heard at around 1:30 am.”
As news spread of the murder, businesses downed the shutters during the day, as a mark of mourning and protest. A forum, comprising of fifteen business welfare unions of Dimapur took out a procession in the town carrying the remains of the deceased. It started from the residence of the deceased at Walford and stopped at the district police chief’s office, where the forum handed over an FIR to the SP. The remains were later buried.
The FIR, besides recounting the turn of events demanded the immediate arrest of all the persons involved in the crime. “Failing to take necessary action, the undersigned (members unions of the forum) shall not be responsible for untoward incident”, it stated.
According to the office of the Superintendent of Police, Dimapur, the arrested abductor revealed the identity of three persons, namely: one “2nd Lieut. Umesh Bihari” a so-called “military internal security (MIS)” in NSCN (IM); one John Chakhesang alias James, a cadre of the NSCN (IM); a Kevikhol Angami with two aliases namely Avito and Ato, who is a self-styled “regional security intelligence officer” in the NSCN (IM). All three are said to be absconding.
It added that the owner of the farmhouse where the hostage was kept was also taken into custody. He was identified as one Ganga Thapa. “Dimapur police appeals to all right-thinking citizens of Dimapur to strongly condemn the perpetrators of such a dastardly act and to come forward with any information that will lead to the arrest of the criminals involved so that justice will be served for their act of crime.” The release appealed.
According to sources, late Israr was a low profile person with several successful business investments in Dimapur
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According to a source close to the deceased, as was directed by the abductors, two relatives of the hostage went to 3rd Mile to complete the transaction. When they reached the place, one person said to be one of the abductors approached them. To the surprise of both sides, SoT personnel sprung into action, apprehending the abductor. The transaction was a failure. The arrested was identified by the police as a self-styled “major” in the NSCN (IM), one Rosou Rhi. The police monitored the transaction calls from the abductors by tracking the mobile numbers.
Based on the statement of the arrested, the police were led to a farmhouse in Tenyiphe I, 7th Mile, where the hostage was believed to have been held by the other captors. However, the hostage had already been shifted to another location. A search and rescue operation was launched which assisted by the public of the nearby villages till midnight but to no avail.
The lifeless body of the deceased Md. Israr was found at a place at 7th Mile, Tenyiphe II village near the ESSAR petrol pump in the early morning hours of May 12 by residents. He was blindfolded with hands tied at the back.
A press release from the Superintendent of Police, Dimapur stated that Israr was believed to have been killed at around 1:30 am. “Eyewitness recounted that they saw three persons moving about near the area at around midnight past suspected to be the abductors and gunshot was heard at around 1:30 am.”
As news spread of the murder, businesses downed the shutters during the day, as a mark of mourning and protest. A forum, comprising of fifteen business welfare unions of Dimapur took out a procession in the town carrying the remains of the deceased. It started from the residence of the deceased at Walford and stopped at the district police chief’s office, where the forum handed over an FIR to the SP. The remains were later buried.
The FIR, besides recounting the turn of events demanded the immediate arrest of all the persons involved in the crime. “Failing to take necessary action, the undersigned (members unions of the forum) shall not be responsible for untoward incident”, it stated.
According to the office of the Superintendent of Police, Dimapur, the arrested abductor revealed the identity of three persons, namely: one “2nd Lieut. Umesh Bihari” a so-called “military internal security (MIS)” in NSCN (IM); one John Chakhesang alias James, a cadre of the NSCN (IM); a Kevikhol Angami with two aliases namely Avito and Ato, who is a self-styled “regional security intelligence officer” in the NSCN (IM). All three are said to be absconding.
It added that the owner of the farmhouse where the hostage was kept was also taken into custody. He was identified as one Ganga Thapa. “Dimapur police appeals to all right-thinking citizens of Dimapur to strongly condemn the perpetrators of such a dastardly act and to come forward with any information that will lead to the arrest of the criminals involved so that justice will be served for their act of crime.” The release appealed.
According to sources, late Israr was a low profile person with several successful business investments in Dimapur
NSCN/GPRN, Muslim Council condemns
DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (MExN): The Joint Council meeting of the Steering Committee and the Cabinet (NSCN/GPRN) held on 12th May 2011, has in its strongest term condemned the abduction and killing of a prominent businessman Md. Israr at Dimapur on 12th May 2011. This was informed in a press note issued by the MIP. The meeting also decided that any NSCN/GPRN found involved in this heinous crime shall be dealt with heaviest punishment. “To this effect, investigating agencies of the government have been activated to immediately get hold of the culprits still at large”, stated the MIP note. The joint council meeting also conveyed heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family members and business communities of Dimapur.
In a separate press note, Muslim community NGO-the Muslim Council Dimapur and the Religious body of the Idgah Committee Dimapur of which late Md Israr has been a member, has condemned the kidnapping and murder, and appealed to the authorities to book the culprits as per the law of the law and do justice to the bereaved family. “Md Israr was a simple religious minded man, who was widely respected by the community members”, the NCD working president, A Rahman said.
In a separate press note, Muslim community NGO-the Muslim Council Dimapur and the Religious body of the Idgah Committee Dimapur of which late Md Israr has been a member, has condemned the kidnapping and murder, and appealed to the authorities to book the culprits as per the law of the law and do justice to the bereaved family. “Md Israr was a simple religious minded man, who was widely respected by the community members”, the NCD working president, A Rahman said.
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