Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, July 13:
Over weeks after the June 18 tragedy, the magisterial inquiry promised by the state administration into the police firing on that day that resulted in the deaths of 14 persons and injury to several others has still not begun.
The principal secretary, home, PBO Warjiri, had in fact issued the necessary order for instituting a magisterial inquiry into the June 18 incident on the same day, being order no.8/1 (1)/2001 (A).
Though the real toll in the firing was 14 dead and 40 injured, the order itself mentioned only 10 civilians dead and 14 injured.
The order appointed the deputy commissioner, Imphal west H Imocha, as inquiry authority, and specified that it should be completed and a report submitted within one month.
The terms of reference of the inquiry were merely to ascertain the facts and circumstances which led to the firing and thereafter the death of 10 persons, and to suggest measures to avoid recurrence of such incident.
On the other hand, it is learnt that the inquiry authority, H Imocha Singh has written back to the government, saying that it would be more appropriate for the inquiry into the matter to be carried out by a judicial magistrate.
As such, the enquiry process has been stalled.
Legal experts also point out that the terms of reference of the inquiry are rather vague, making no mention of the torching of the state Assembly building, the chief minister�s office and a dozen other government quarters and buildings.
As such, it would be very difficult to carry out a full fledged enquiry, the experts opined.