Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 28:
Amid tight security arrangement, the four 17 Assam Rifles witnesses finally appeared before the Thangjam Manorama Death Inquiry Commission at the State Guest House, Sanjenthong today.
The panel headed by C Upendra, retired District and Session Judge had asked the four, Naik Subedar Digambar Dutt, Havildar Suresh Kumar, Rifleman Ajit and Lotha yesterday to appear before the Commission at 10.30 am today failing which the already ordered bailable warrants of arrest would be issued through the State's Director General of Police against them.
Meanwhile, the Gauhati High Court, Principal seat has today ordered that proceedings of the panel should be held at Imphal Central jail in camera to ensure safety and security of the Assam Rifles' witnesses.
Justice PC Agarwal pronounced his order today at 10.30 am after keeping his judgement reserved yesterday following two writ petitions filed separately by 17 Assam Rifles Commandant Colonel Jagmohan Singh and the four witnesses challenging the legality of the Commission to summon them.
Acting on the verdict of the High Court, the inquiry panel has ordered for shifting its office at Central Jail, Imphal.
It fixed 1 pm of August 30 for recording statements of the four witnesses inside the jail premises.
Amid heavy deployment of both State police and AR personnel and presence of large number of media-persons, the witnesses whose identities could not be ascertained because of the presence of other AR jawans came in five Gypsys at 11 am.
Around 20 of them including the four accused scurried inside the "court room" of the Commission.
Seconds after the entrance the door was shut and the curtains of all the windows pulled and for the in-camera proceedings.
After about 50 minutes, the personnel came out and drove off on their vehicles.
Following the appearance of the four witnesses before the Commission today, the Commission has withdrawn the order to issue warrants of arrest against them.
As agreed by the panel, Thangjam Dolendro, younger brother of the 32 year old Manorama, besides the counsel of all concerned parties joined today's in camera proceedings.
According to Dolendro two out of the four witnesses did not turn up today though Commission sources said that all were present.
Mention may be made here that the four witnesses and the AR CO had refused to appear before the court despite repeated summons from the Commission since August 7.