Judicial inquiry into the death of S Robinhood : Addl SP deposes before probe panel
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 01 2015:
Imphal East Additional SP (Law &Order) Polem Manjit gave his statement before Justice Binoykumar Commission of Enquiry which is enquiring into the killing of Sapam Robinhood.
Manjit said that he was informed from District Police control room through W T set about students of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy marching towards the Manipur Legislative Assembly at around 1.05 pm of July 8 when he was at the SP office, Porompat .
Even as he geared up to rush to the spot, one wheel of his vehicle was found flat.
It took some time to replace the flattened wheel.
Nonetheless, together with his driver and three escort personnel, he moved to the spot.
They saw the tail of the students' rally when they reached Ahongei through Ananda crossing and Soibam Leikai.
They saw the head of the rally at Telipati.
Iron barricades were seen on Minuthong.
Manjit and his team crossed the barricade and parked their vehicle.
Some other police officers including the DSP and the SDPO were also present there.
Police personnel who were manning the police barricades shouted to the marching students not to step forward any further but turn back.
As the students started pelting stones, the Executive Magistrate was seen running away followed by some police officers, Manjit told the Commission.
"We took refuge inside a shop which deals steel almirahs.
The OC and myself suggested the Executive Magistrate about dispersing the agitating students.
The Executive Magistrate then issued a written order to disperse the students without resorting to excessive force", continued the Addl SP.
After coming back to the spot where the vehicles were parked, the OC Porompat was asked to inform other police officers about the Executive Magistrate's order.
Soon after, sounds of firing tear gas shells were heard and one his escort personnel, as instructed, fired two/three rounds of tear gas shells.
When the firing (of tear gas shells) ceased, most of the students had ran away and one injured boy was seen being attended to.
Immediately the OC was asked to make necessary arrangements so that the wounded boy got medical assistance.
Even as the OC tried to reach the boy with two escorts, they could not reach the boy due to pelting of stones.
The wounded was seen taken away towards Public Hospital by a student and a man clad in plain clothes on a motorcycle.
"As we were more concerned about ensuring medical assistance to the wounded boy, we didn't make any attempt to intercept the motorcycle", Manjit told the Commission.
"Even as we were busy trying to control the next wave of agitation, it was learnt through W/T set that the wounded boy was named Sapam Robinhood and he had succumbed to injuries at Raj Medicity", he continued.
He maintained that the agitating people/students were dispersed and police were preventing unlawful assembly of people as prohibited by Section 144 of CrPC around Minuthong in accordance to the Executive Magistrate's order.
However, the victim family's counsel argued that no PA system or loudspeakers were used before the agitating students were dispersed.
The Executive Magistrate was not present on the spot and the order to disperse the students was drafted at the Imphal East DC office, contended the counsel.
The OC Porompat did not make any attempt to take the wounded student to any nearby hospital.
Whereas police used slingshots, it was not the students who pelted stones first.
However, when cross-examined by the Commission's counsel, it was found that the Executive Magistrate prepared and issued the inside a shop dealing in steel almirahs, located next to Akash Travel Agency.
Students of CC Hr Sec School and Lamlong High School too took out protest rallies on the same day and this was accepted by the Additional SP .
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