Imphal, October 18: Three personnel of the 17 Assam Rifles testified before the OC Irilbung PS today in connection with the death of Thangjam Manorama who was gunned down by AR personnel after she was picked up from her residence.

Informing that the AR personnel had been forced to give their statement following strong pressure from the Central Govt on the army authorities, a well placed source said that the three AR personnel who testified before the OC were the same personnel who had appended their signatures on the seizure memo.

Meanwhile, following the completion of examination of Assam Rifles witnesses at the premises of the Imphal Central jail, the proceedings of the State sponsored Thangjam Manorama Death Inquiry Commission has been shifted back to State Guest house located at Sanjenthong.

Sources said that the inquiry panel headed by Justice (Retd) C Upendra will prepare its probe report probably by the beginning of next month after examining a few witnesses.

Mention may be made here that Manorama was shot dead by 17 Assam Rifles personnel after picking her up from her residence on the intervening night of July 10 and 11.Her bullet riddled body was recovered the next day from Yairipok Maring village.

The State Govt had on July 13 instituted the inquiry panel to establish the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Thangjam Manorama.

Following a verdict of the Guwahati high Court, the panel was shifted to the premises of Imphal Central Jail on August 30 for examining the AR witnesses on security reason.

Minutes after completing the examination of the AR witnesses on Monday morning, the panel was then shifted to the premises of State guest house where one K Nongyai of Bamon Kampu, whose PCO cum pan shop was knocked on by unidentified persons for quite a while in the wee hours of July 11, testified.

Around 1.20 am of July 11 while he along with a friend were sleeping at his booth, unidentified persons knocked on his doors many times, Nogyai testified and added that the knocking was finally stopped after a motorcycle was heard approaching near his booth.

He also informed that he heard the news of Manorama arrest by the security forces at around 8.30 am and her death at around 10.30 of the same day.

He would be crossed examined by Colonel T Prasad counsel appearing on behalf of the Assam Rifles on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the AR counsel requested before the panel to allow examining four witnesses including Officer in Charge (OC) of Irilbung PS Gunindro Singh, SDO of Imphal East Munindro, Manorama's younger brother Dolendro and one police constable of Imphal West Dist police.

The Commission would decide the plea of the AR counsel on Tuesday.

In the meantime, the panel would examine one ballistic expert of the State forensic science Laboratory, Pangei on Wednesday and some other witnesses later on, commission sources said adding that by the end of the current month the whole proceedings including examination of witnesses and final arguments would be completed.

Subsequently in the first week of November, the panel would prepare its report, the source added.

State Govt has already extended the time frame for completing the probe to November 12.In the meantime the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Imphal on Monday fixed October 29 for hearing the application filed by OC Irilbung PS requesting for conducting DNA testing on AR personnel involved in the arrest and subsequent killing of Manorama.

CJM had already issued notice to the commandant 17 AR asking him to show cause as to why the prayer of the OC should not be allowed.

It is reliably learnt that the AR authorities have not received the notice served by the CJM.

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