Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 13:
The Army Court of Inquiry has urged the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal to direct the OC of Irilbung Police Station to depose before it along with the DNA profile of the semen stain reported to have been detected on the petticoat of Th Manorama.
The application of the Army Court, endorsed by the presiding officer panel was submitted by an officer before the CJM today.
The Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Kolkata had in its report to the State Govt stated that semen stains were found on the petticoat of Th Manorama at the time of her death.
Urging the CJM to direct the OC to appear before the Army panel, the application said, "it had become necessary to subject the personnel of the patrol party that carried out the operation on July 11 to DNA testing to compare the DNA profile of the personnel with the DNA profile extracted from the semen traces detected on the petticoat, so as to confirm or rebut the rape allegation by the personnel".
Invoking provisions of the Army Act to summon civilian witnesses to military Court, the presiding officer requested the CJM to direct the OC to appear before the Army Court with the DNA profile, documents and other material evidences on Saturday at 11 am at Kangla.
"This will help the Court to go ahead with the DNA comparison as also assist this inquiry in many other ways," added the application.
The DNA profile is believed to be in the custody of the State authority.
After perusing the application, the CJM fixed Saturday for hearing.
The summon orders of the Army Court were sent to the SP of Imphal East today.
Earlier on August 31, the OC had filed an application before the CJM requesting the Court to issue an order to conduct a separate DNA test for the personnel involved in the arrest and killing of Th Manorama.
So far blood samples of 32 Assam Rifles personnel including officers have been taken and the same have been despatched to the laboratory to Kolkata for DNA test.