By Special Correspondent
Ukhrul, May 24:
In a shocking and brutal crime that has sent shockwaves across Ukhrul district, a 45-year-old government school teacher, AS Thotshang, was allegedly murdered in cold blood by a mechanic identified as Abiss Uddin alias Chottu. The incident occurred on May 20 at Awungtang, Hungpung, while the decomposed body of the victim was discovered on May 22 inside the accused room, wrapped in a blood-soaked blanket.
According to the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Justice of the late AS Thotshang, the victim, a resident of Tashar village and currently residing in A-Block, Hamleikhong, Hungpung, was a committed educator serving at T. Shimin Government Lower Primary School. In a press conference held at TE TV Phungreitang, the Tashar village headman and JAC members revealed that the accused, a mechanic at Mona Workshop, allegedly lured the teacher under the pretext of vehicle servicing around 2:30 PM on May 20. Thotshang was last seen being driven away in his Alto K10 (MN03P 5052).
Concerned over his absence, the teacher’s family began inquiring about his whereabouts when he failed to return home that evening. By the night of May 21, it was confirmed through friends that he had last been seen with Chottu. The family, accompanied by a local resident, Thoi Thoi, lodged an FIR at the Ukhrul Police Station around 11:00 PM.
The grim discovery came the following morning with the assistance of local civil bodies including the Awungtang and Kasomtang Organisation and THYSO, who helped locate the victim’s body inside the accused room. The condition of the body and its concealment pointed to a premeditated act of murder.
In response, representatives from Tashar Village Authority, Hamleikhong locality, Awungtang and Kasomtang Organisation, THYSO, and the Hungpung Village Authority swiftly formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC) to demand justice. A memorandum was submitted to the Governor of Manipur through the Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul, outlining a four-point demand:
1. Immediate arrest and formal booking of the accused within 48 hours from May 23, 2025; 2. Return of the victim’s personal belongings, including the car, mobile phone, and wallet with crucial documents; 3. Ex-gratia compensation to the victim’s bereaved family; 4. Provision of a government job to the next of kin.
The JAC has further stated that the victim’s body will not be claimed until all demands are fulfilled, underscoring the community’s profound grief and growing mistrust in the justice system.
The incident has provoked widespread outrage and demands for swift action. Civil society organizations, student bodies, and concerned citizens across the district have joined the call for immediate accountability and transparent legal proceedings.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the progress of the investigation.