IMPHAL, June 30: The man convicted in the gruesome triple murder of Dr Thingam Kishan and his two subordinates, Hopeson Ningshen, was on Monday awarded life imprisonment.
Special Judge PC Act) Vinay Kumar Gupta pronounced the quantum of punishment at the CBI Special Court Patiala.
National Socialist Council of Nagalim (IM) self-styled Lieutenant Colonel Hopeson Ningshen was on May 31, 2014 convicted in the triple murder case by the CBI Special Court. Two of his accomplices in the said case are still at large.
Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Kishan and his two subordinates Yumnam Token and Aribam Rajen were found bludgeoned to death at Taphou along National Highway-2 (Imphal-Dimapur road) on February 17, 2009.
The convict was awarded life imprisonment under Section 120 B IPC, rigorous imprisonment for 7 years under Section 392 IPC r/w section 120 B, life imprisonment under Section 364, A r/w Section 120 B IPC, life imprisonment under Section 302 r/w Section 120 B IPC.
Meanwhile, Senior Public Prosecutor AK Singh during today’s announcement of the quantum of punishment had also made an appeal to the judge for separate trials of the remaining two accused Abo Shibo and Johnny, informing that the two have been tracked and there is high possibility of their arrests soon.
The Senior Public Prosecutor had demanded capital punishment for Hopeson on the basis of “the aggravating circumstantial evidence” in his words.
He argued that Dr Thingnam Kishan and his associates were murdered while on duty as public servants and recalled that Dr Kishan had been called for an interview by the then DC, Pankaj Kumar Pal on February 13, 2009.
AK Singh pointed out the method, manner and the brutality of the crime, drawing attention that the triple murder had larger implication for the whole of Manipur.
ND Pancholi, defence counsel for Hopeson argued that capital punishment must be awarded only in absence of a single mitigating circumstance. He further argued that Hopeson was guided by ‘higher consideration’ in surrendering himself to the authorities. The accused has no prior history of offence against law, added Pancholi.