"Yes I shot him dead. I shot Sanjit Meitei. He was not armed"

Peters Chongom *

Last Rites for Thokchom Rabina at Lamshang :: July 27 2009

The fake encounter issue in Manipur is again in the news. This time, it is no more confined in the local news but published/telecast on the National media.

A few days back, the leading news channel CNN-IBN aired the galling revelation of one head constable of Manipur police who revealed to the media that he was in fact the man who shot Sanjit Meitei, a suspected member of an insurgent group, dead.

What is more disturbing in his allegation is that he was instructed by the then Additional SP, Imphal West, Dr. Akoijam Jhalajit Singh to 'finish off' Sanjit. He further stated that even the CM and the then DGP of that time is also in the know of the incident.

He in fact clearly stated that the killing was directed by these individuals, who are in the higher-rung of the Government.

The head constable also said that Jhalajit gave the assurance that he would be protected and would not come under the radar of suspicion and inspection regarding this killing.

As such this issue will not die down anytime sooner given the new found revelation. The whole episode dates back six years. As stated in the CNN-IBN news, at that time, the Chief Minister made a clarification on this incident stating that the deceased was in possession of arm and it was him who started firing against the police and later he was killed when the police retaliated the fire.

However, there is a new twist to this statement made by the CM. If we go by the statement of this new revelation, one thing stands out here – the two revelations are contrary to each other and only time will tell which one of the two is right.

The incident occurred in 2009. Not really satisfied with the outcome of the police report, the mother of the deceased sought justice from the Court. The Court allowed for the CBI probe into the matter. However, based on the media report, Dr. Akoijam Jhaljit Singh did not come under the lens of the CBI during the probe.

Per se, the number of missing persons in Manipur is growing every year. The figures are indeed disturbing. Clearly something is dodgy in Manipur. Somewhere someone is not doing enough or is doing in excess. It may be too early to come to the conclusion that all these top brass officials are really working in connivance with this killing.

However, the need of the hour is to let the CBI continue the probe. If this allegation is indeed true the history of Manipur need to be reshaped. We have had enough. The time is now ready for awakening. Manipur is in fact a great place with great people.

However, the sheen is diminishing. The gloss is getting enveloped with a thick halo of gridlock of our making. There is imperious need to contain this epidemic before it engulfs us all.

Further it can be asked, is the AFSPA used as a license to kill ? This question needs a fitting answer. Lives have become too cheap. Let us think of the pain and agony that runs through the vein of those who have lost their loved ones this way.

Meanwhile, let us pray that the CBI comes sooner and smack out the crux of this quagmire.

The agonising mother of Sanjit Meitei may not get the chance to see her son back but all the culprits must be punished. The scar in her heart may not go away but we pray that her wound is somehow healed when justice is brought. Let us all anticipate that day.