Uncovering of fake encounters continues
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 11 2014:
In yet another glaring revelation of justice against the fake encounter episodes articulated by the security forces in Manipur, a division bench of High Court of Manipur comprising Chief Justice Laxmi Kanta Mohapatra and Justice Nongmeikapam Koteswar Singh today ordered for payment of Rs.10 lakh as compensation to the two petitioners who filed different writ petitions concerning the two fake encounter cases.
In both the cases, Advocate Meihoubam Rakesh appeared on behalf of the petitioners, while Central Government Standing Counsel Amarjit Naorem and Senior Government Advocate R.S Reisang defended on behalf of the Union of India and the Manipur state respectively.
According to a release of Human Rights Law Network Manipur, on 28 December 2008, one Thiyam Amit Meitei accompanied by his friend Moirangthem Inaobi Meitei went out to Tshomyang village on a Yamaha motorcycle along with a cash amount of Rs.10,500/- to be paid to the chief of the village as price for the timbers purchased by his father.
The duo were arrested by a team of 23 Assam Rifles at Sabungkhok village and taken to its custody at Yaingangpokpi.
After severe torture, the AR personnel separated the two.
Thereafter, Lamlai Police station reported an encounter case between AR-Commando combined security force and some unknown persons on 29 December 2008 at 7 pm at Nongren Chinglak.
According to police report, Thiyam Amit Meitei was killed during the encounter case, while one 9 mm pistol with magazine and 4 live rounds of ammunitions were recovered near the dead body, it recalled, saying that Moirangthem Inaobi Meitei was however brought to the official quarter of the then Deputy Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly by the police commandoes and subsequently released.
Dissatisfied with the police allegations, mother of Thiyam Amit filed a writ petition in 2009 before the High Court which accordingly directed an enquiry into the circumstances of Amit's death, HRLN release said.
The District Judge, Manipur East submitted its report on 27 July 2012 stating that Thiyam Amit was killed by the 23 Assam Rifles and Manipur Police Commandoes in a fake encounter case on 29 December 2008 at around 7 pm, it added.
The High Court of Manipur has subsequently ordered the DGP Manipur, the Home Secretary and the Defence Secretary, Govt.of India to pay a compensation of Rs.5 lakh to the petitioner within 4 months.
In another case, Soubam Baocha alias Shachuinta, who had left home to purchase certain iron bars for construction of his house on 28 December 2008, never returned home.
His family found the dead body of Baocha along with that of his friend Salam Gurung at RIMS Hospital, Lamphelpat, the release stated.
However, Lamlai Police station designed a false report of ambush on the team of 23 AR and Police commandoes in which two persons were killed in retaliatory firing.
Police claimed recovery of 2 pistols and some live rounds of ammunitions from the dead bodies, it added.
Acting on a writ petition filed by the mother of the deceased, Soubam Radhe Devi, the High Court ordered an enquiry into the death of Baocha.
Accordingly the District Judge Manipur east submitted its report saying that Soubam Baocha was arrested along with Salam Gurung by a combined team of Police Commando Imphal west and 23 AR on 28 December 2008 .
They were killed at the foothill of Huimei Ching in Imphal east District in a fake encounter case.
The High Court in its judgment ordered for payment of Rs.5 lakh compensation to the petitioner within 4 months, it continued.
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