Scent of inside job in sentry killing

Imphal, January 24 : The OC of Porompat Police Station has started investigating the killing of a commando personnel who was on sentry duty inside the office complex of Imphal East SP and snatching away the service Rifles by some unidentified persons on the night of January 14 .

According to an official source, as there is suspicion on the possible involvement of the police personnel deployed in the same office complex in the said incident, the investigation has begun from within.

It may be recalled here that on the night of January 14 one police commando personnel identified as Md Sikandar who was on sentry duty was found clubbed to death and his service LMG Rifles and the allotted ammunition missing.

It is said the on that fateful night, the duty timing of Sikandar was from 9 pm to midnight with one Lukram Strong to take over from midnight to 3 am.

So far the investigation has established that the police commando who was on sentry duty from 6 to 9 pm on that day had been very cordial with Sikandar at the time of taking over the duty.

However, Lukram Strong who was to take over the duty from Sikandar after his duty hours was not present inside the office complex.

In case of taking leave from duty due to some emergency, any commando has to seek the permission of their higher officers.

But on that day, Lukram Strong allegedly went home without giving any prior information.

Moreover, on the same day of the incident one of the surrendered PULF cadres identified as Md Islamuddin was also found missing from the office complex of the SP although he had been staying inside the office complex for around 2 months on security reasons.

The absence of Lukram Strong who was to be on sentry duty and the surrendered PULF cadre on the same day has therefore raised suspicion, said the OC.

The two have been remanded to police custody till January 28 and are under hectic interrogation.