New Delhi, November 07: Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to violence-hit Manipur possibly on Nov 21, his office is understood to have asked the army to fully co-operate with the State police in punishing the guilty in the alleged custodial death of Manorama Devi.

Singh, who had met a delegation of Apunba Lup, an amalgam spearheading the agitation in Manipur seeking withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, earlier this month, is likely to meet the agitating leaders again during his visit, informed sources said.

Before this, the Union Home Ministry has been asked to give its opinion on AFSPA and also suggest some other act in which the national security and human rights were not violated, the sources said.

A senior PMO official is visiting the state on November 9 to work out the modalities of the visit.

Ahead of the Prime Minister's visit, PMO is understood to have asked the Army authorities to cooperate in letter and spirit with the state police and district administration in finding the guilty for the alleged custodial death of Manorama Devi, an incident which sparked off state-wide protests.

Manorama Devi was arrested from her house at Bamon Kampu near Imphal on July 10 by Assam Rifles personnel and her body was found the next day.

Initially reluctant to cooperate with the state police, more than 30 Assam Rifles jawans appeared before the cops and recorded their statements.

The sources said that the army authorities were yet to hand over the documentary evidence, including the details of the case.

The Assam Rifles have informed the state police that it would be handing over the documents only after the clearance was given by the "higher authorities", they said.

The sources said the state Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and state Governor SS Sidhu had taken up the issue separately during their meetings with Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

The Prime Minister, during his meeting with Apunba Lup leaders on November one, had assured of a speedy trial and bringing the guilty to book in the case of alleged custodial death of Manorama Devi which sparked off violent agitation in the state.

Singh had told them that he himself was a father of two daughters and he would ensure that the guilty were not spared.

Ahead of the meeting with Apunba Lup the Prime Minister's Office had sought a detailed report on the progress of investigations in the Manorama Devi case.

The probe in the case had virtually reached a deadlock with state police alleging that Assam Rifles was not cooperating in the investigations and that no DNA sample had been taken by the state authorities.

The PMO and Home Ministry had intervened at this point and asked the Army to comply with the rule of the land.

Following this, jawans from the Assam Rifles starting queuing before the police.

The army had earlier said that the Manipur government should get these tests done expeditiously and reiterated that "should guilt of these personnel be established, prompt and exemplary disciplinary action will be taken".

Manorama's death sparked off large-scale protests in the state with people demanding withdrawal of AFSPA from Manipur.

Comment