Witnesses still playing hide and seek game on 'flimsy ground'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 27:
For the fifth time, the four Assam Rifles witnesses today failed to appear before the C Upendra Commission, which is probing the circumstances leading to the death of Th Manorama in the custody of the security personnel.
The absence was despite the repeated reminders to produce the witnesses before the panel.
After listening to yet another round of explanation for the failure of the AR witnesses to appear before the Commission and another assurance that they will appear before the panel, as furnished by its counsel Colonel Trivedi Prasad, the Commission today once again asked the four witnesses, Naik Subedar Digambar Dutt, Havildar Suresh Kumar and riflemen Lotha and Ajit to appear before it by 10.30 am of tomorrow.
Clearly peeved with the continued non-cooperation of the Assam Rifles authority, the Chairman of the Commission, C Upendra had yesterday issued bailable warrant of arrest against the four AR men, demanding their appearance by 10.30 am of Monday at the latest.
The warrants were however kept in abeyance till 1 pm of today after the AR counsel assured that the witnesses will turn up within the stipulated time.
The Commission today also issued an order that the warrant of arrest be issued to the State DGP and the SP, Imphal West in writing to depute sufficient personnel including police commandos and BSF to haul up the AR witnesses if they fail to turn up within the time frame.
The Assam Rifles counsel today pleaded that the four witnesses were apprehensive of being prosecuted by the State Government as per reports carried in two State dailies.
To substantiate his stand, the counsel read out the report which quoted the Chairman of the Commission, C Upendra as saying, "The.
C Upendra Commission, probing the Manorama case today said it had written to the Government to prosecute the four Assam Rifles persons, against whom it had issued warrants for ignoring summons".
Giving out such statement "is beyond comprehension and has caused apprehension in the minds of the said personnel about the intention of the Commission," argued the AR lawyer.
To this, the panel said that it had not issued any such statements and added that the grounds furnished for the non appearance of the AR witnesses is flimsy.
"I think it is not proper to avoid their appearance before the Commission," said C Upendra adding that they have been waiting for the appearance of the AR men since August 7.This has only led to the loss of valuable time, said the Chairman.
Referring to the forensic report, the AR counsel said that except for the petticoat, no semen stains were found on the other clothing.
Forensic examination of the vaginal swab of the deceased woman, which should provide the main clue to the question of whether she was raped or not was found negative, said the counsel and lamented that only the damaging part of the report was made public.
CO of 17 Assam Rifles Colonel Jagmohan Singh who has also been listed as one of the witnesses has already obtained a stay order against his appearance before the panel from the Gauhati High Court, Principal seat.