Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 25 2010:
The Gauhati High Court has directed the State Government to pay Rs 5 lakhs as compensation for the maintenance of the surviving children of Kshetrimayum Meghamani of Pallel Mamang Leikai who died in the custody Kakching Police.
A departmental inquiry against the police personnel involved in the case has also been ordered.
A division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Mandal B Lokur and Justice Asok Potsangbam issued an order in this regard on August 23 .
Talking to mediapersons in this connection at his residence, Advocate Khaidem Mani, who is fighting the case on behalf of the petitioner, recalled that on January 17, 2006 Kshetrimayum Meghamani was arrested by Kakching Police in connection with the death of his wife.
He was duly produced before Thoubal CJM on January 18 and later remanded to police custody for six days.
At the end of the remand period, Meghamani was again produced before the Court on January 20 after which he was sent to jail.
But the night of the same day he passed away in Sajiwa Central Jail.
Contending that his son died from police torture, Kshetrimayum Ghane, father of Meghamani, filed a writ petition in the High Court on March 28, 2006 .
After hearing of the case on August 24, 2008, the Court had directed the District Judge, Manipur West to conduct an inquiry into the incident and the report of the same was submitted to the Court on April 9 this year.
After studying the report minutely, the division bench ruled that Meghamani had died indeed from police torture.
Accordingly, the Court has directed the State Govt to pay Rs 2.5 lakh each to Kshetrimayum Chingkhei and Kshetrimayum Maichon, the surviving son and daughter respectively of Meghamani, by the time they attain 21 years of age.
The amount has to be deposited in a Nationalised bank in fixed deposit within four days of the Court order and the receipts of the deposited amount are to be kept in the custody of District Judge Manipur West.
Along with payment of compensation, the Court has also directed that a departmental inquiry be conducted against the involved police personnel for taking up necessary action.
The inquiry is to be conducted by a senior police officer who is not below the rank of DGP or DIG within six months.
The respondent of the case include Principal Secretary (Home), Government of Manipur, DGP, SP Thoubal, Additional SP Central Jail Sajiwa and OC Kakching and their advocate is Thokchom Ibohal.