Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 14:
The enquiry report prepared by retired Sessions Judge C Upendra Singh into the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Thangjam Manorama Devi has not been tabled by any authority till date due to a number of writ appeals lying undisposed at the Gauhati High Court, Principal seat.
Even as an earlier ruling passed by Justice D Biswas on June 23, 2005 directed that the Assam Rifles personnel involved in the murder of Manorama should be punished and the enquiry report be sent to the Union Ministry, the State is keeping the report under seal cover as it filed an appeal against a portion of this order, informed a highly placed source in the State Home Department.
With the State's appeal still lying undisposed, the probe report has not been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, conveyed the source adding that the State will act according to the outcome of the writ appeals pending before the Principal Seat at Gauhati.
The State has been challenging the portion of the June 23 order which it deemed unfavourable to the institution of C Upendra Inquiry Commission by filing the writ appeal.
The appeal prayed before the Division Bench Court to endorse that the State has unfettered right to set up the Enquiry Commission and to take up action according to the findings of such report.
Similar to the writ appeal filed by the State, another appeal was filed by the family of the victim.
On the other hand, Assam Rifles filed another appeal against the June 23 order pleading that since the State has no legality to constitute such commission of enquiry against the central Government, its report should stand invalid.
Interestingly, the family of the victim has filed a contempt petition against the Government's failure to punish the accused involved in killing Manorama despite the June 23 order directing the State to act to this effect.
As such, all these cases are still pending before the Principal Seat.
Multiple bullet riddled body of Manorama was recovered from Yaipharok Maring village in Imphal East district in the morning of July 11, 2004 after she was picked up by troops of 17 AR the night before.