Imphal, November 04: On the first day of the final arguments of the Manorama Death Inquiry Commission, Assistant Public Prosecutor N Samida Devi and the counsel assisting her today argued, with specified reasons, that personnel of 17 Assam Rifles were responsible for the death of 32 year old Th Manorama Devi Advocates S Lakhikanta and Jhaljit who appeared on behalf of the mother of Th Manorama and Bamon Kampu Women Welfare Association supported and endorsed the arguments of Samida.

The APP submitted before the inquiry Commission that it has been proved beyond doubt that the Assam Rifles personnel instead of handing Manorama over to the nearest police station, interrogated her through out the night and took her to different places to arrest other women, without the assistance of any woman police personnel.

Even if a woman police personnel could not accompany the AR men at the time of raiding her house, they still had ample time to requisition the service of woman police while searching her room and her body, the APP contended.

Rejecting the version of the Assam Rifles that Manorama was shot dead while she was trying to escape, the APP said, "it would be too hypothetical and unnatural that a lady of such fragile body structure could escape from the clutches of 13 well trained and armed to the teeth personnel and the latter could not arrest without taking the help of fire arms".

If the version of the Assam Rifles is true, then it can only mean that either their men were handicapped or physically challenged that they could not outrun a woman, said the APP and noted that in fact the AR men were not handicapped at all.

The opinion given by ballistic experts also prove that Manorama could not have been killed while she was trying to escape, said Samida.

Elaborating the APP quoted the opinion of two experts, Dr Manglem and Dr H Nabachandra who said, "Considering the nature of the injuries received by Manorama about 500 ml to one litre of blood ought to have been found at the spot near the body." It may be mentioned here that only one to two drops of blood were found from the spot where the body of Manorama was found lying on the morning of July 11, as submitted by the police.

On the injury marks caused by blunt force on the body of Manorama, the APP said that the AR personnel have not been able to give a satisfactory answer for the presence of the injuries, who was in their custody till the time of her death, said the APP further.

The body was also immediately handed over to the police, the APP reminded the panel.

The APP further said that it is an established fact that Manorama was arrested from her house when only her mother and brother were present.

It is also true that Manorama was still single at the time of her death and the question that her petticoat could have been changed after her body was handed to the police, she contended.

Under the stated facts and circumstances, the semen stain found on the petticoat of Manorama is from one of the Assam Rifles men, added the APP.

"17 Assam Rifles should be held responsible for anything that happened to Thangjam Manorama," argued the APP and added that the security personnel should conduct themselves within the frame-work of the law.

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