Imphal, May 11 2009: The Guwahati High Court, Imphal; Bench here has directed the Assam Rifles authority and Union ministry of home affairs to pay a compensation amount of Rs 3 lakh to the next of kin of a man killed by the troops of Assam Rifles in fake encounter in 2001 .

The ruling of the court was related with the killing of a youth named Th Ingocha of Yairipok Angtha Mayai Leikai by the troops of Assam Rifles on October 31, 2001 in which authority of the Assam Rifles claimed as PLA cadre killed in encounter.

The court also directed Manipur police department to submit a reply on why police did not take up any action in relation with the murder even though family lodged complaint with the Yairipok police where the place of occurrence lie within its jurisdiction.

The hearing of the case was conducted in the division bench court of Guwahati High Court, Imphal Bench comprising Justice K Merino and justice AC Upadhayay on February 13 last of this year and announced yesterday after keeping the order reserved, official source said today.

The court gave the during based on the finding of the enquiry conducted by the district session, Manipur east as directed by the Guwahati High court in response to a petition filed by advocate M Devananda in favour of the family of the deceased to the Court.

In the enquiry report, it mentioned that the deceased Th Ingocha was not a PLA cadre and he was killed after rounding up by the troops of the 7 Assam Rifles.

Counsel of the family of the deceased Ingocha, advocate Devananda in court strongly argued that the deceased was not a PLA cadre but an innocent civilian helping the family with day to day available works.

He was rounded up by the troops of the 7 Assam Rifles on the night of October 30 at around 11 pm and shot dead at around 3.30 pm of the next day at a spot on the side of an inter-village road at Andro.

The case was filed by the father of the victim, Thokchom Ingocha as petitioner against the secretary, Union ministry of home affairs and CO of the 7 Assam Rifles.