CBI: A Million Dollar Question

Iboyaima Laithangbam *

ON THE basis of the inordinately delayed government "decision" to hand over the Konsam Rishikanta killing case to the CBI the scribes has suspended the indefinite ceasework strike. In a sense it is good since it is not desirable to deny the people their newspapers indefinitely.

Journalists are killed in almost all countries in the world and there has not been a single instance of such indefinite ceasework strikes by the scribes. The scribes here who had conducted their own investigations into the killing had come out with their preliminary findings.

It will be closely watched whether the CBI sleuths carry on the investigation in consonance with the findings of the scribes. If there are any hints of hanky-panky business bordering on a travesty of justice the AMWJU is likely to take up further actions. The agitation was merely suspended and not called off.

Straws in the wind indicate that the CBI may not accept the Rishikanta case for reasons not far to seek. Because an investigating agency like the CBI would not stoop low enough to play the second fiddle to the Manipur government's chicanery. Since all scribes of Manipur and elsewhere are interested parties in this case the CBI sleuths may not like to come under adverse publicity in case something goes wrong, by design or not.

First of all, there is not a shred of evidence on which the sleuths could start the investigation. The only "evidence" may be the suspicion of the scribes which had already been communicated to the Chief Minister who is also in charge of Home.

Since even a preliminary investigation had not been conducted it is not known who the gunmen were and what their motive was for killing the scribe. It is a practice among police, criminalogists and forensics in other advanced countries give much importance to preserve the bullets and other murder weapons for ballistic and forensic analysis.

The available circumstantial evidences in case of Rishikanta are too tenuous for the CBI sleuths to depend on. In view of these points it is very doubtful if the CBI will undertake the Rishikanta case. It is a known fact that the CBI elsewhere had refused to undertake gone cases.

What the journalists had demanded is a judicial inquiry. Despite the climb-down the government is yet to formally hand it over to the CBI along with the terms of reference. Even if it is assumed that the CBI will accept it nobody can say how many years will be needed to solve it.

About 20 years ago I had published one article in Gentleman, a monthly English magazine published from Mumbai. It was pointed out that in Manipur the CBI sleuths had failed to solve a single case. There were some other uncharitable innuendoes. There was no denial from the CBI. One interesting point was also added.

In those days the FCS items had a longer list since construction materials like cement, iron rods had also been included. All the FCS items had to be lifted from Kolkata or Guwahati. The favoured contractors just sold off the items in the local markets and the sale proceeds shared by them and their political masters.

They had the audacity to submit bills for the imaginary transportation of these items to Imphal and other districts and the corrupt Ministers and officials were regularly paying the exorbitant bills. The Opposition members had made a hue and cry of the daylight robbery.

Under political pressure the then Chief Minister who was a tribal had to hand it over to the CBI. If the scam was exposed many heads would roll. It was therefore understandable that the fiery opposition members were silenced in the well known method. Then the Chief Minister quietly withdrew it from the CBI.

To my knowledge, the only successful solution of a case was that of the medical scam involving Rs 1.33 crore. But then the CBI dragged its feet for nearly 20 years to solve the simple case. There were relevant files, documentary evidence and statements of the accused persons and yet such a long time was taken.

In case of Rishikanta it is anybody's case how the investigation will proceed. When the medical scam case was closed many of the accused had already died, several others retired from service. About five accused persons are still in service.

The guilty ones were convicted and sentenced for about three or four years. But then the convicted persons are approaching the high court praying for clemency since they had suffered enough during the protracted investigation. Almost all of them had been suspended, arrested and detained in police cell.

On the political front the Chief Minister had miserably failed in the sense that he did not make even the perfunctory statement of condemning the killing of the young scribe.

Besides the government has not so far announced any financial solatium and assured job to one of the family members. In sharp contrast Tarun Gogoi of Assam had done immediately all these things. Of course, some scribes are deadly against accepting any money or job from the government.

However it is not too late on the part of the Chief Minister to move in this direction since Rishikanta had been the sole bread earner. Now all eyes will be towards the CBI to see whether they will accept the case or not.