Arson, theft slur on Commandos
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 24 2011:
A Hatta Golapati (imphal East) shop-owner namely Md Tomba (35) s/o Md Ibo has accused a team of Manipur police commandos of ransacking his lubricant cum motor parts store and looting cash and ornament kept in the shop's cash-locker.
Md Tomba claimed that the commando team led by a Sub Inspector of Imphal East district police arrived at his shop at a round 1 pm today with some of the police personnel descending from the police vehicle and starting to enquire whether he (Tomba) has petrol/diesel at the shop.
When he replied in the negative the commandos not only used abusive language but insisted that all the items of the shop, including the lubricant containers would be opened and searched, narrated a distraught Tomba who confessed that he used to sell petrol/diesel in black but stopped the illegal trade after facing embarrassments during the Government crackdowns in the recent past.
Inspite of his denial that no petrol or diesel is stored inside, the commandos raided the shop and brought out a container of 3 litre diesel which Tomba clarified was kept as reserve fuel for his diesel auto.
However, the commando team claiming that it was an order demanded Rs 50,000 as penalty amount with one of them pointing the service weapon at him, Tomba alleged and further claimed that he was beaten up and his shop items scattered.
Further contending that the commando team broke through his cash-locker impounding Rs 20,000 cash, Tomba said his wife came out hearing the commotion subsequently following the commandos demanding that the money should be returned.
The commandos allegedly shoved away Tomba's wife (Memma) besides snatching the gold necklace-chain of two mohors.
When Tomba accompanied by some locals went to file a complaint report at Porompat police station, police officials present there declined to accept the complaint and suggested that they resolve (compromise) the issue with the concerned commando team.Demanding that police authorities pulled up the commando team involved in the illegal act for punitive action, Tomba and family members said in case of failure they would take legal assistance.