Imphal: Manipur Information Commission (MIC) on Monday expressed its heartfelt grief and deep sorrow on the sudden and untimely demise of its Commissioner, Dr Soibam Ibocha Singh (Rtd IPS).
Dr Ibocha passed away on Sunday afternoon after a long battle with the Covid-19. He was first admitted to the Shija Hospital and later shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) after his condition deteriorated.
In a condolence programme held at the MIC’s office premises in Secretariat North Block on Monday, State Chief Information Commissioner (in-charge), Oinam Sunil Singh termed late Dr Ibocha as a “great human being” who always gave a helping hand to his colleagues. He said the state and the MIC have lost a good leader.
“Tamo Ibocha was very close to me ever since he was Superintendent of Police, Imphal West district and I was a journalist. We had shared a close bond. After I came back to Imphal after 16 years, we were together again at the MIC. He was very knowledgeable and I always seek his advice in Commission’s matters. The void left by his departure will be hard to fill,” said Oinam.
Oinam said the officials and staff of MIC still could not believe that Tamo Ibocha had left them. He said that besides being the SIC, Dr Ibocha was also the state’s interlocutor in the peace talks with Kuki rebel groups/ Soo groups.
The staff of Manipur Information Commission and the officials of the Administrative Reforms Department paid floral tribute to the departed soul. Former State Chief Information Commissioner Th. Ibobi Singh also attended the programme. A two-minute salience was also observed in respect of the departed soul.
Born in 1958, Dr Ibocha is a resident of Soibam Leikai, Imphal East. He was appointed as the State Information Commissioner by Manipur Governor Dr Najma Haptullah on October 22, 2018.
He was a lecturer at Maharajah Budhchandra College from 1979 to 1983. He joined the Manipur Police Services (MPS) in 1983 and retired as IGP in 2018. During his career in the Police department, he had served as Superintendent of Police of Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Churachandpur and Senapati districts. He got his PhD in community policing. He is also a recipient of the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
He also received the Sahitya Akademi translation prize. State Literature Award, State Kala Akademi award, Sharda Translation Award and Akoijam Chaoton & RK Muktasana Literature Award He was also the President of Rugby Football. Manipur and was the Senior Vice President of Amateur Rugby Federation of India
