5 lakh sought for 'encounter' victim
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 29 2011:
A division of Guahati High Court, Imphal Bench comprising of Justice Nandakumar and Justice Hrishikesh Roy in a ruling today directed the government to pay a compensation of ' 5 lakh to the family members of Pheiroijam Sanajit who was killed in a fake encounter on May 31, 2004 by personnel of 19 Rajput Rifles.
The Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) extolled the ruling of the court in its press release today.
The compensation was awarded following a writ petition filed by Pheiroijam ongbi Rita, wife of the deceased Sanajit of Nongada Awang Leikai, Imphal East against the Union of India represented by the Defence Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Home Secretary, GOC 57 Mountain Division, Commanding Officer 19 Rajput Rifles, State of Manipur represented by the Principal Secretary (Home) and the Director General of Police, Manipur.
The court instructed the respondents to deposit the compensation amount to the Registry of the High Court within five months.
It also instructed Defence Secretary, Home Secretary, GOC 58 Mountain Division and CO 19 Rajput Rifles to pay ' 6000 as fee to the counsel for the Petitioner Advocate Meihoubam Rakesh under the public law domain for established infringement of fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.