Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 10:
The OC of Irilbung Police Station S Gunindro Singh today testified before the Manorama Inquiry Commission and said that Assam Rifles did not co-operate with the police while investigating the killing of the 32-year old woman.
Despite repeated messages sent to the CO of 17 Assam Rifles, none of the three personnel, namely Naik Subedar Digambar Dutta, Havildar Suresh Kumar and Rifleman T Lotha, turned up at the police station for examination under section 161 CrPC, the OC Gunindro informed the one man panel Commission.
On July 19 and August 4, the OC testified that, he had personally gone to Keithelmanbi where the post of the 17 Assam Rifles is stationed to examine the three named key witnesses, but none of them came forward to co-operate with him.
Instead the Adjutant of 17 AR sent a letter on August 6 stating that the said witnesses were engaged in the Court of Inquiry at Kangla and so they would be made available for giving their statements after completion of the inquiry, Gunindro told the Commission.
On being cross-examined by the counsel on behalf of the victim�s mother, the police office stated that after about 30 minutes of his arrival at the spot where the body of the girl was found, one Army officer of the rank of Major in uniform along with some jawans came in a white Maruti Gypsy.
Normal traffic along the Iribung-Yairipok was also blocked by the Assam Rifles personnel for sometime, he added.
On receiving the Izahar lodged by the younger brother of the deceased girl, he registered a case against the Assam Rifles personnel under section 302 IPC with FIR No.30 (7) 2004, Iribung Police Station, Gunindro further said.
Subsequently, he further testified that a letter was written to the SP Imphal East for taking necessary action for causing production of the AR personnel named in the FIR.
So far he has not received any further information and none of the AR personnel have been produced before him or before the investigation officer concerned, he said.
Prior to lodging of a complaint by the Assam Rifles in the morning of July 11, no intimation had been given to the Irilbung PS about the operation or raid in the house of the deceased on the intervening nights of July 10 and 11, the police office informed.