Fake encounter slur
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 13 2012:
The killing of one Meitram Ingotomba (35) of Leimaram Makha Leikai in Bishnupur district during the holi festivities has been strongly contested by the victim's sister who alleged that he was slain in a staged encounter.
Police report claimed that Ingotomba was slain by a combined team of Bishnupur district police commandos and troops of 18 Sikh Regiment at Kabow Wakching Maning Canal area at around 7.30 pm of March 12 .
It is said that one AK-56 rifle with a magazine and eight live rounds were also recovered from the possession of Ingotomba.
Contrary to the police report, speaking to newspersons at Manipur press Club today, Ingotomba's elder sister Memchoubi said Ingotomba was whisked away from near a local hotel on March 10 at around 7 pm by unknown persons who came in a Maruti Car and wielded sophisticated rifles (large weapon) .
Quoting eyewitness accounts, Memchoubi said the unidentified armed persons forced Ingotomba and all others present at the hotel to lie face-down on the ground before singling out the 35-year old and taking him away.
When former local MLA Y Jiten enquired about Ingotomba's whereabouts information was reportedly conveyed that Ingotomba was in the custody of Officer in Charge (Bishnupur) John, she contended adding that on the advise of the ex-MLA some relatives went to Bishnupur police station only to be told that OC John has left moments earlier for Nambol police station, where a report was also filed on the matter on March 12 .
As the search continued, an officer of Nambol police station allegedly told the relatives that Ingotomba was not in their custody, Memchoubi recounted.
Maintaining that the search team ultimately went to the RIMS morgue where Ingotomba's corpse was found, she claimed that the morgue care-taker had informed them about the body being deposited there by a team of Nambol police station.
The sister also informed that Ingotomba recently returned home from jail, where he was detained for one year since March 2011 as an arrested KCP (MC) activist and left behind a daughter and a son.
Demanding that state authorities probe the killing and punish the guilty police personnel, if any, she also affirmed that until and unless the issue is not settled amicably the body will not be claimed by the family.
On the otherhand, in connection with the killing, a sit-in-protest was organised today at Leimaram Shanti bazar which ended with the formation of a JAC and various decisions including launching movement to demand justice.