CM assures probe, JAC to take body
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 23, 2011:
With Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh reportedly agreeing for a magisterial inquiry in the killing of one Laishram Ranbir (40) of Uchiwa Awang Leikai, the JAC formed in connection with the incident has decided to claim the body tomorrow.
A joint meeting between the CM, JAC representatives and Mayang Imphal AC legislator Dr Kh Ratankumar held today morning culminated with the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, assuring that a Magisterial probe would be instituted to ascertain facts and circumstances surrounding the death of L Ranbir, whom police commandos had branded as an activist of KCP-MTF (Kesho Meitei) group, and an accused in the abduction and killing of Irilbung water supply scheme chowkidar Soram Ibomcha and his son Yaiphu alias Geetchandra.
In the backdrop of the JAC contending that Ranbir was an innocent person and demanding punitive action against the police commandos involved in the slaying of the 40-year old, the joint meeting was held today.
It is informed that the JAC insisted on instituting a judicial enquiry, presence of a Magistrate at the post mortem examination and video recording of the entire medical procedure.
On the CM's suggestion that the case merits departmental enquiry the meeting nearly came to a deadlock but intervention of MLA Dr Ratankumar convinced O Ibobi to assure that magisterial inquiry would be conducted.
The JAC team conveyed the CM's assurance to the Uchiwa public who had assembled for a sit-in-protest.
Along with accepting the CM's assurance, the public meeting also resolved to demand that the Government of Manipur provide all possible assistance to the victim's family, which was communicated to the CM by the JAC team later in the evening.
It is pertinent to mention that police had claimed the killing of Ranbir alias Eshen by a combined team of Imphal East and West police commandos at an alleged encounter at Narankonjin on December 20 mid-night.
Besides branding Ranbir as an activist of KCP-MTF (kesho Meitei), the outfit involved in slaying the father-son duo, police had claimed to have recovered one 9 mm pistol and two live rounds from the victim's possession.