Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, September 11:
Mayengbam ongbi Tombi Devi, fought a lonely battle for the past two years to trace the whereabouts of her husband, a CRPF constable posted at Srinagar, who disappeared after leaving home in early 1998.Now the courts have come to her help.
A division bench of the Gauhati High Court, Imphal bench, comprising of Justices PC Phukhan and PU Agarwal, acting on a petition moved by her, today directed the concerned authorities to submit a report on the disappearance of the man.
The authorities to whom the direction has been issued include the Union home secretary, director general, CRPF, IG, CRPF, Langjing, commandant 26th Bn CRPF.
The case has been fixed for further hearing in six weeks.
Tonibi Devi's husband, Mayangbam Deven Of Uchiwa, who served in the 26th bn CRPF, and was posted at Srinagar, came home on a month's leave in January 7, 1998.He fell ill, and asked for extension of leave but the request was denied by his battalion commandant who directed him to report immediately.
Deven however overstayed is leave, and left home only on April 18, 1998 with another CRPF constable with whom he was serving, Ahmed Juddin of the neighboring village.
He was never heard from since.
In June 1998, Ahmed Juddin came back and delivered Deven's belongings at his home.
His tale was that when they reached Jammu railway station, Deven had quietly walked away leaving his belongings behind.
Deven's father thereafter filed a complaint with the Mayang Imphal police station.
The police station OC dispatched a letter to the commandant, 26th CRPF, who replied that Deven had disappeared at Jammu.