Imphal, Jan. 24: The Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) today issued a no-trust notice to Manipur Speaker T.N. Haokip on the basis of allegations by the prime suspect in the Lungnila Elizabeth murder case that he was among the conspirators in the killing of the eight-year-old girl.
James Kuki alias Letsei Haokip, the suspect captured by the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) from Dimapur this month, had alleged that the Speaker, PWD minister Gaikhangam and tribal development minister Ngamthang Haokip were involved in the murder of Elizabeth, daughter of taxation minister Francis Ngajokpa. He had allegedly confessed that the trio paid him to keep quiet.
Elizabeth was abducted on November 4 last year and her body was recovered eight days later.
DPA leader and Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) president Okram Joy Singh demanded resignation of the Speaker and the two cabinet ministers in view of the charges levelled by the prime suspect.
Submitting the notice to the Assembly secretary, the Opposition DPA made five specific charges against the Speaker, including his alleged involvement in the murder.
The Opposition accused the Speaker of flouting the government?s directive banning fresh recruitment by appointing 27 employees, including an under secretary, on contract and ad hoc basis.
They alleged that the Speaker has been misusing public money. The state has lost Rs 35 lakh to Rs 40 lakh because the Speaker procured air-coolers and security equipment worth Rs 1 crore at exorbitant rates without floating any open tender and hired two private vehicles at the extravagant rate of Rs 500 per day, the DPA said.
The charges against the trio could not have come at a better time for the Opposition in Manipur. Kicking off its election campaign yesterday, the BJP raked up the Elizabeth murder case.
The party said the fact that the case had been handed over to the CBI on Tuesday reflected chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh?s suspicions following the allegations made by the suspect during interrogation by the NSCN (I-M).