Imphal: The Central government has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the case of the murder of former Zeliangrong Baudi (AMN) president Athuan Abonmai.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who is currently stationed in the national capital, earlier said that understanding people’s sentiment and seriousness of the case, the state government had written to MHA twice to hand over the case to NIA.
Abonmai was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by suspected NSCN-IM militants while he was participating in a government-sponsored outreach programme in Tamenglong district headquarters on September 22.
“The Central government is of the opinion that a Scheduled Offence under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, has been committed and, having regard to the gravity of the offence and to unearth the full conspiracy hatched by the accused, it is required to be investigated by the National Investigation Agency in accordance with the NIA Act, 2008,” said a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India on Thursday.
“In exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (4) of section 6 read with section 8 of the NIA Act, 2008, the Central Government hereby directs the NIA to take up investigation of the case,” it added.
