FAKE turns FACT in 2014

Seram Neken *

Fake Encounter Killing Protest of Satish :: May 23 2009

Killings, JACs, Bandhs, Boycotts, Sit-in protest, Rally, MoUs, Agreements and Enquiries have been the scheduled algebraic equation in almost all the cases of murders and killings in Manipur. In almost all cases, truth remained concealed from public view. No enquiry report, no punishment to killers and no justice to the victims. Only the dead remain the losers.

All struggles, public protests and agitations ended in futility. Numerous people demanding justice were lathi-charged, thrashed or jailed. The state was boiling on the hot pan with disruptions of normal life in all sectors. Students missed their studies. People living hand-to-mouth had to starve. But, the government that is always habituated to subduing all such frequent happenings in the state, succeeded in covering up the most inhuman tragedies of fake encounter killings in favour of its most dutiful protectors.

Numerous poor and innocent youths, who had never handled guns of any sort and who had never seen such arms in their lives, were charged with involving in encounters with and ambushes on the security convoys. People particularly the near and dear ones of the victims, had to remain in complete mystery for a number years. Besides the pangs of separation caused by the sudden deaths of their near ones, family members could not avoid challenging the false allegations posthumously painted on the deceased.

As the saying goes 'God sees the truth, but waits', justice has really come alive now with the gradual unfolding of the truth behind mysterious deaths of a number of innocent persons at the hands of security personnel. Families of victims have certainly got a sigh of relief from the everlasting pains of parting hovering in their hearts for years.

It was around 3.30 pm, November 2 fourteen years ago, that a powerful bomb went off and led to injury of some security persons who were coming in convoys along Imphal-Tiddim Road. The remaining irate jawans in the convoys jumped down from their vehicles and opened fire in all directions. Ten persons, including a woman Laishangbam ongbi Sana Devi along with her two nephews 18-year old Sinam Bocha and 25-year old Sinam Robin, in the nearby bus stand lost their lives instantly. Bocha was the winner of National Bravery Award. In fact, Bocha and Robin were accompanying their aunty who had visited their house at the bus stand.

Out of the 10 victims, two were 52-year old Oinam Sanatomba and 35-year old Kangujam Ngouba, both employees of Food and Civil Supplies, Government of Manipur. When they were returning from office, security persons stopped the duo at the cordoned off area and shot dead. 34-year old farmer Amakcham Raghumani; three students Tokpam Santikumar (18), Soibam Prakash (15), Ksh Inaocha (20); 55-year old Gurumayum Bapu Sharma, an employee of State Revenue Department also met the same fate in the open firing, which the Assam Rifles claimed to be a retaliation against the armed attack by insurgents. Now after 14 years of the infamous incident of Malom Massacre, justice finally came to the families of the 10 victims who lost their lives in the hands of security persons on that historic day.

In the past few months, the High Court of Manipur has begun to make revelations on a number of controversial and pending ‘Fake Encounter’ dramas perpetrated by security persons in the name of counter-insurgency. As of now, everything has become open that “security persons kill civilians” in “fake cross firings”. Even though the monetary compensation provided to the victim families can never recoup the loss of innocent human lives, it is indeed a moral victory against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958.

The dead is always the loser. Claims and counter claims on a number of civilian deaths in the hands of security persons have been regular feature in Manipur during the past four/five decades. Under the controversial and atrocious Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958, numerous youths of the state either disappeared or were killed after arrests by security persons, a handful of arrested persons never returned home, and a number of women were sexually assaulted before being murdered. In the name of counter insurgency, the armed persons have taken the role of military junta, doing anything and everything on the civilians without sparing anything for their human rights and values.

June 20 in 2005, Pheiroijam Keshorjit, also called Loketomba Singh from Nongada Awang Leikai in Imphal east was intercepted and killed by security forces while returning home from the work site of his brother contractor. Although Assam Rifles claimed Keshorjit was killed in an encounter at Seijang and Seilen area under Lamlai Police Station, his mother Pheiroijam Ongbi Ibeton Devi sought justice by filing a writ petition to the Law Court. After nearly a decade of struggle, truth came out with the law court declaring that Keshorjit was killed in a fake encounter case perpetrated by the personnel of 19 Assam Rifles.

Mutum Herojit Singh, a Tata Sumo Driver along Imphal-Moreh road and Mutum Rajen Singh, who ran a rice hotel along with his wife were arrested by Imphal east Police Commandoes on October 14 in 2008 and killed in their custody. By that time, Police claimed that the two cousin brothers were killed in encounter at Lambui Lambi at Porompat in Imphal east district, and incriminating articles, arms and ammunitions were recovered near the dead bodies.

Reacting to the police allegations, the wives of the deceased brothers filed writ petitions before the High Court in 2009. After six years of perplexity, justice was showered on the families with the court disclosing they were killed in a fake encounter case.

On 28 December 2008, Thiyam Amit Meitei and his friend Moirangthem Inaobi Meitei went out to Tshomyang village on a Yamaha motorcycle along with a cash amount of Rs. 10,500/- to be paid to the chief of the village as price for the timbers purchased by his father. The duo were arrested by a team of 23 Assam Rifles at Sabungkhok village and taken to its custody at Yaingangpokpi.

According to Police reports, Thiyam Amit Meitei was killed in an encounter case with AR-Commando combined force on 29 December 2008 at 7 pm at Nongren Chinglak. One 9 mm pistol with magazine and 4 live rounds of ammunitions were allegedly recovered near the dead body. In the meantime, Moirangthem Inaobi Meitei was released, after handing over to Police station. Dissatisfied mother of Thiyam Amit filed a writ petition in 2009 before the High Court, and after five years now, the court ruled that Thiyam Amit was killed by the 23 Assam Rifles and Manipur Police Commandoes in a fake encounter case on 29 December 2008 at around 7 pm.

Soubam Baocha alias Shachuinta, who had left home to purchase certain iron bars for construction of his house on December 28 in 2008, never returned home. His family found the dead body of Baocha along with that of his friend Salam Gurung at RIMS Hospital, Lamphelpat. Reacting to the claim of Lamlai Police station that Baocha was killed in retaliatory fire after an ambush on the team of 23 AR and Police commandoes, Baocha's mother Soubam Radhe filed a case with the High Court. After six years now, he law court unfolded a fake encounter case in which Soubam Baocha and Salam Gurung were killed by a combined team of security forces at the foothill of Huimei Ching in Imphal east District.

In the infamous Thangjam Manorama Killing case on July 10 in 2004, the law court concluded that she was killed in fake encounter incident and her family should be compensated with Rs 10 lakh as damages. It is worthy to mention that the incident compelled the women of this state to even state naked protests in front of the Kangla Fort where the Assam Rifles were housed.

Meanwhile, a number of fake encounter incidents will get revealed with the Supreme Court hearing on 1528 cases begun on October 14 last. As truth like fire cannot be covered for long, riddles on designed encounters will be disclosed one by one. The nasty security persons who were bereft of all kinds of humane hearts and who defied all norms of service can no longer hide their misdeeds in the face of Law.

The state government, in the meantime, can no longer hide the enquiry reports of various cases with apex court's intervention. The protests, agitations, betrayals, tears and melancholy will gradually bring forth their fruits with the FAKE turning into FACTS.