Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 06 2009:
Raising a call attention motion in connection with the abduction of Kh Megha of Singjamei Naorem Leikai by Imphal East Police Commandos on May 6 this year in the Assembly session today, MLA O Joy demanded to know why Major Kartivan of Assam Rifles who was involved in the case has not been arrested on charge of attempt to murder.
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh who is also in charge of Home had earlier assured that necessary action would be taken up and no one including the Assam Rifles personnel would be spared if they were found involved in the incident.
O Joy said Megha was abducted by two Commandos of Imphal East Police at the behest of two local persons without the knowledge of their SP.
There is report that the abduction had been carried out at the instruction of Assam Rifles, Joy said, while questioning whether an investigation has been conducted into the allegation that after being abducted Megha was kept at the house of an ex-MP at Imphal.
Joy also appreciated the personnel of Imphal East Police who gave their statements as witnesses in the case of abducting Megha.
Expressing surprise that Megha was handed to the police on May 8 by the Assam Rifles claiming that he is a PLA cadre arrested from Moreh though Megha had been abducted from Khagempalli, Joy also wanted to know the role being played by the Assam Rifles and other security forces in encounter insurgency operations in the State.
Denouncing the conduct of the Assam Rifles, Joy wondered whether the Assam Rifles has any secret plan of killing people after picking them up for the sake of a medal of honour.
Since Armed Forces Special Powers Act has been lifted from Greater Imphal area, the Assam Rifles has no authority to arrest any person in Imphal area, Joy said, adding that it is because of loopholes in the State Police organisation that the Assam Rifles has been interfering in the work of the State Police force.
"When the two police personnel involved in the abduction of Megha have been arrested, why should the Major of the Assam Rifles involved in the same crime be spared ?" Joy questioned, while drawing the attention of Chief Minister who is also in charge of the Home portfolio.
In response to the call attention motion, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh reiterated that the report of the Assam Rifles claimed that Megha was arrested from Moreh as a PLA cadre.
Acting on the FIR lodged by mother of Megha with Singjamei Police, the investigation is going on.
He also reiterated his assurance of initiating necessary legal action against any Assam Rifles personnel if their involvement in the case is confirmed.
The Chief Minister further said that after the arrest of Doukhomang Touthang, who is a personnel of Ist MR attached with the Imphal East Police Commandos, investigation has led to the arrest of three more persons identified as Commando personnel Thangkhulun, S Shantikumar of Kakwa Naorem Leikai and L Sanathoi Meitei of Keibung Oinam Leikai.
Shantikumar and Sanathoi have been detained under NSA and they are currently under judicial custody.
Investigation has confirmed that both of them are overground activists who work in connivance with Commandos and Assam Rifles personnel in carrying out extortion, the Chief Minister informed the House.
When the investigation is completed, a final picture would emerge as to how a person abducted from Khagempalli was claimed to have been arrested by Assam Rifles from Moreh, the CM added.