Fake Encounter: HC awards Rs 3.50 lac each as compensation to 2 victims
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 26 2014: A division bench of High Court of Manipur comprising Chief Justice Laxmi Kanta Mohapatra and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh have awarded Rs 3.50 lakh each as compensation to the mothers of the deceased Yumnam Robita and Asem Romajit Singh, two victims of fake encounter killings involving personnel of CRPF on April 9, 2002 at Pangei Bazar under Imphal East district.

The said compensation was awarded in response to two writ petitions filed by Yumnam Ongbi Radhamani Devi, mother of the deceased Yumnam Robita Devi of Waiton Makha Leikai and Asem Ongbi Damayanti Devi, mother of the deceased Asem Romajit Singh of Khundrakpam Mayai Leikai.

According to the case dossiers, on April 9, 2002 at around 2.30 pm, there occurred an incident of firing attack by some unidentified insurgents at a convoy of CRPF personnel at Pangei Bazar area while they were returning after fetching drinking water from Koirengei side.

In the attack, four CRPF personnel were killed and two others sustained bullet injuries.

Thereafter, the infuriated CRPF personnel got down from their vehicles and started firing indiscriminately and also started thrashing innocent civilians who were found in and around the Pangei Bazar area.

A large number of CRPF personnel also came out from their camp and joined in the act of indiscriminate firing and torturing of people.

When the indiscriminate firing by CRPF personnel started, Asem Romajit Singh was in a hair cutting saloon waiting for his turn and he was hit by a bullet and died.

Similarly, Yumnam Robita Devi, who was also standing near the market shed of Pangei Bazar along with one of her friends, was hit by another bullet fired by CRPF personnel and she also died at the spot. Following the two writ petitions, the High Court directed the District Judge, Manipur East to conduct an inquiry to ascertain the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Robita and Romajit.

Consequently, the District Judge, Manipur East submitted its inquiry report on May 2, 2012 before the High Court.

The inquiry report ascertained that the two individual were killed by the CRPF personnel.

On August 21, the matter was heard by the division bench of the High Court and reserved its judgement and order till today.

According to the judgement and order pronounced today, the compensation amount is to be paid within 3 months by the Union of India including CRPF authority and observed that the compensation has been awarded under public law domain for established infringement of fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The respondents listed at the time of filing the writ petitions included the Union of India represented by the Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India; Director General of Police, Central Reserve Police Personnel (CRPF); the Commandant of 121 Battalion, CRPF; the commandant of 134 Battalion CRPF and the State of Manipur represented by its Principal Secretary (Home) and Director General of Police.

It may be noted here that the writ petitions had been filed under the initiative of Human Rights Law Network, Manipur.

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