Police Arrest Under-Age Boy in Connection with Hostage Case

A 59-year-old hostage, Shankar Lal Swami, was abducted by three persons, including two India Reserve Battalion personnel, on Wednesday from Kangla Fort in Imphal. The body of the hostage was found the next day in a fish farm. The police have arrested five accused in connection with the case, including an under-age boy who was picked up from Imphal West. The boy has been remanded in a juvenile home till January 10.

Key Takeaways:

The police have arrested five accused in connection with the abduction and murder of Shankar Lal Swami, including an under-age boy who was forced to guard the hostage.
The two India Reserve Battalion personnel, Yumnam Dinesh and Laishram Herojit, were deployed inside Kangla Fort for sentry duties, but were involved in the abduction and murder.
The police said the abductors used names of militant outfit Kuki National Army as well as a faction of the Kangleipak Communist Party to demand a ransom of Rs 1 crore.
The under-age boy was picked up from Imphal West and remanded in a juvenile home till January 10.
The police have recommended that the case be handed over to the CBI for an impartial probe, as two IRB personnel are involved in the case.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of Swami.

Statistics:

The police have arrested five accused in connection with the case, including an under-age boy.
The ransom demand for Shankar Lal Swami's release was Rs 1 crore.
The ex-gratia payment announced by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh for the next of kin of Swami is Rs 5 lakh.
The body of Shinakar Lal Swami was found in a fish farm at Wheng Khuman Keijengbam in Imphal West.

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