Unfolding The Truth Behind Fake Encounters

Seram Neken *

Last Rites for Thokchom Rabina at Lamshang on July 27 2009; She was killed in the BT Road Shoot-out on July 23 2009

Credits for the most-cherished justice will go to the Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families' Association and the Human Rights Alert Manipur, while the people of Manipur as a whole have to appreciate the contributions of Human Rights Law Network, its Director Advocate Meihoubam Rakesh and his associates for bringing back the truth.

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.

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 has now come 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 has visited to 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 has 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 has 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.

To all these cases, the law court gave its verdict for awarding compensation to the victim families from the authority concerned.

Meanwhile, a number of fake encounter incidents will get revealed with the Supreme Court hearing on 1528 cases to begin on October 14 next. 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.

For obvious reasons, the state government is reportedly withholding enquiry reports of nine cases pertaining to killing of A. Bimol of Nongren Chillak on 29 October in 2004, killing of Thangjam Manorama on July 10 in 2004, killing of Kh. Debeshore on March 9 in 2004, killing of Md. Tayab Ali on July 25 in 1999, killing of Yumlembam Sanamacha on February 14 in 1998, killing of Laishram Bijoykumar in 1986, killing of C.Paul and C.Daniel on March 10 in 1982, killing of Loken and Lokendro on December 23 in 1980 and the killings during Operation Blue Bird at Oinam village in Senapati in 1987.

With the law courts beginning to scan the 1528 cases of fake encounter killings in Manipur during the last 30 years, the inhuman perpetrators will be paid their dues sooner or later. However, the dead will never come back. The protests, agitations, betrayals, tears and melancholy will never be compensated any more. Nevertheless, we are hopeful that fake encounters will not recur in this land. Let us bid adieu to fake encounters for all times to come from this land.