Court orders probe into 2007 case
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 17 2022:
Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) president T Renu has welcomed the directive issued by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thoubal to the SIT/CBI on April 7, for continuing the investigation into the death of Ningthoujam Thopchao of Nongpok Sekmai, who was allegedly killed by personnel of 72 Battalion BSF on February 1, 2007 .
According to a statement of EEVFAM, Thopchao's controversial death is the 39th case to be investigated out of the 1528 cases of extrajudicial killings that were submitted to the Supreme Court jointly by EEVFAM and HRA.
On March 13, 2019, CBI had submitted a closure report to CJM Thoubal citing lack of evidence for the case.
Objecting to the report, EEVFAM and Thopchao's widow Ningthoujam Sunibal filed a protest petition to CJM Thoubal on December 30, 2019.However, CBI filed another closure report on March 21, 2021, to which EEVFAM counsel advocate N Subhaschandra and Sunibal filed another protest petition.
Subsequently, CJM Thoubal upheld the petition and directed the officer in-charge of the case to continue with the investigation, which is highly appreciated, it added.