Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 21 2009:
The first hearing of the State-sponsored one man Judicial Commission headed by retired Justice PG Agarwal, which is probing into the July 23 Khwairamband Bazar incident, could not take place today as none have submitted affidavits.
The hearing was supposed to take place at 11 am today at Hotel Imphal.
Talking to mediapersons in this connection, chairperson of the Commission retired Justice PG Agarwal, who came to Imphal from Guwahati, for the hearing disclosed that no affidavits have been received so far either from the side of the family members of the victims or the public.
However, a report on the incident has been received from the Imphal West District Magistrate in response to the notice of the Commission, he added.
He further informed that the date for submission of affidavits has been extended upto October 8 and the hearing would be carried on the following day.
The Commission would also be issuing a special notice to all the family members and close relatives of all those who were killed or were injured in the July 23 incident.
Reiterating his appeal to the people to come forward and extend their co-operation to the Commission, Justice Agarwal observed that if truth behind the incident is to be revealed and the guilty punished, then the public have to submit their affidavits to the Commission.
To a question on whether police force would be used if none of the family members of the victims or the public come forward to submit their affidavit, Agarwal said something has to be done in this regard and added that use of police force is within the provision of law.
It may be noted here that the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup which is spearing the ongoing public agitation over the July 23 Khwairamband Bazar incident had also announced its decision of boycotting the judicial inquiry.
The Commission is supposed to submit its inquiry report to the Government within two months.