HC orders Rs.5 lakh compensation
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 22 2015:
Manipur High Court has ordered the Government of India to pay Rs.5 lakh as compensation to a widow and held Border Security Force (BSF) personnel responsible for the killing of her husband - Ningthoujam Thopchao alias Ranbir Singh.
The compensation is to be paid by the Union of India and BSF authority, said a press note issued by Human Rights Law Network (HRLN).
The case pertains to an incident at Nogpok Sekmai Lila Kambong playground, Thoubal district on February 1, 2007.According to the case dossier, 172 Bn.
BSF personnel came to a Thabal Chongba venue when they were fired upon by some armed assailants who fled from the spot.
One BSF personnel sustained bullet injury in the attack after which the jawans started firing indiscriminately towards the people at the Thabal Chongba venue.
Two persons sustained bullet injuries in the incident.
Around the same time, the petitioner's husband � Thopchao along with three friends returned home from Shikhong Sekmai Bazar.
As they approached one BSF post, they were subjected to frisking and interrogation and were asked to leave.
As they left the spot, BSF personnel from a bunker situated inside a Primary Health Centre started firing at the three in which Thopchao was hit by bullets.
He succumbed to injuries after BSF personnel took him to hospital at around 11.30 pm.
Later, the BSF personnel claimed that Thopchao sustained bullet injuries during the exchange of fire between BSF personnel and the armed assailants.
The petitioner challenged the claim after which the High Court gave its ruling.
The Court has made it clear that the compensation amount is to be paid by the Union of India represented by the Ministry of Defence; the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Commanding Officer of 171 Bn.
BSF within three months.