Imphal: Three weeks after a leader of the Naga insurgent outfit NSCN-IM allegedly molested Momoko, a Manipuri actress, the Manipur government Friday made his photo public.
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam released Livingstone Anal’s photograph to the media and said the government was taking all necessary steps to arrest him.
Anal, a self-styled ‘lieutenant colonel’ of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), went underground after the Dec 18 incident in Chandel district.
The government has failed to arrest him despite a bounty of Rs.5 lakh.
The molestation has led to a widespread protests in the state and curfew had to be imposed in three districts.
A TV journalist was also killed Dec 23 after police opened fire at protestors in Imphal.
The release of Anal’s photo comes amid stepped up protests demanding action against the culprit.
Sources in the government said NSCN-IM’s peace talks with the central government had apparently complicated the issue.
“We hope the centre will not takes it lightly,” the deputy chief minister said.
Sources said the Congress-led Manipur government wanted the central government to pressurise the NSCN-IM leadership to hand over Anal.
They also said that a joint meeting of 14 parties was likely to be held to pressurise the centre to resolve the issue.
They said Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh was likely to lead a 15-member all-party delegation to New Delhi Jan 16.