Imphal, October 06: The State Govt is ready to contest the Misc case filed by the Army before the Gauhati High Court asking it to allow matching the DNA samples of personnel of 17 Assam Rifles and the semen stain found on the petticoat of Th Manorama.

The Misc case relating with the main case challenging the ongoing State State sponsored Thangjam Manorama Devi Death Inquiry Commission was filed by the Army some days back.

The matter is likely to be heard on Friday, a reliable source said adding that the State authorities are yet to receive the copies of the Misc case.

To contest the case the State Home Dept has already engaged two lawyers - senior advocate DK Mishra and Hrishikesh Roy for the State and advocate Neloy Dutta for the State sponsored inquiry panel, the source added.

Govt advocate (High Court) Th Ibohal would also appear on behalf of the State Govt and he may leave for Guwahati very soon.

Mention may be made here that the Chief Judicial Magistrate had on September 25 rejected an application filed by the ongoing Army Court of Inquiry praying for producing the DNA profile of the semen stain found on the undergarments of Manorama Devi.

Challenging this order, the army filed the Misc case before the High Court.

Meanwhile, the army panel has issued fresh summons through the CJM Imphal to five civilian witnesses for their appearance before it, however some of them have not received the summon letters as they were out of their respective houses at the relevant time, sources said.

Upon this the summon letters were returned back to the office of the CJM, the source added.

The five civilians witnesses include Khumanleima, Bashu Meitei, P Bilashini of Keirao, Lairenlakpam Ratan of Bamon Kampu Mayai Leikai and Thangjam Khamba Maring of Laipharok Maring Village.

The army panel had already examined Th Dolendro Meitei younger brother of Manorama and two other local witnesses at Kangla Fort.

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