Imphal, April 29: Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh today heaved a sigh of relief when the fact-finding committee of Senapati district decided not to carry out its threat to enforce an indefinite statewide bandh in protest against the recent killing of two schoolchildren in the district.

The fact-finding committee, constituted by leaders of civil society bodies of the district, had last week threatened not only to call an indefinite Manipur bandh but also hold demonstrations at the NSCN (I-M) camp at Hebron in Dimapur from today.

The committee is unhappy with the tardy investigation into the killing of Muheni Martin and Hriini Hubert by unidentified persons on December 14 last year.

While the Manipur government has constituted a special police task force to bring the culprits to book, the NSCN (I-M) is conducting a parallel investigation into the case.

Some of the prime suspects are still in the outfit’s custody.

The decision to abandon the planned course of agitation was taken after the NSCN (I-M) leaders assured a delegation of the committee that the outfit would ensure delivery of justice in the case.

A delegation of the committee has been in Hebron since yesterday.

The 16-member team led by Solomon Veino, chairman of the committee, left Senapati for Hebron yesterday, after the outfit invited its representatives to the camp.

The team held a series of discussions with leaders of the NSCN (I-M), not only with reference to the progress of the investigation, but also the circumstances surrounding the escape of one of the suspects from the outfit’s custody.

NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, who is reported to be present at the camp, is believed to have participated in the meetings with the delegation.

Adai Mao, one of the prime suspects, escaped from Camp Hebron on April 26.

A source said the delegation expressed its unhappiness over the escape by the accused.

The team was somewhat pacified after the rebel leaders assured it that an inquiry into the matter was on and appropriate punishment would be meted out to those responsible for the security breach.

The team expressed its suspicion that the accused was deliberately set free.

An official source here said the state police and intelligence wing were trying to confirm the report that one suspect had indeed escaped from the NSCN (I-M) camp.

The committee’s visit to Hebron is likely to conclude today. After the Hebron trip, members of the committee are also likely to meet the Manipur chief minister to inquire about the progress of the police probe.