Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 10:
The ongoing Th Manorama Death Inquiry Commission has today issued summon orders on five personnel of 17 Assam Rifles personnel including its Commandant Col Jagmohon Singh asking them to appear before the panel tomorrow at 8 am.
The summons were issued through the DGP, informed a source adding that a copy of the same was also given to the State Chief Secretary.
Besides the CO, the other four personnel named in the summon letter include havildar Suresh Kumar, riflemen Ajit and T Lotha who signed in the arrest memo and Naik Subedar Digambar Dutt, the informant of the case.
The summons have been issued to the AR personnel as the presence of AR witnesses is a must in order to ascertain the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Manorama.
If they fail to appear physically before the panel in time, the Commission would take up necessary legal action, said the source adding that the panel seriously views the non co- operation of the RA witnesses despite the assurances given by the top brasses of the army including GOC 3 Corps Lt gen Daljeet Singh.
On August 8, the counsel on behalf of the Assam Rifles pleaded before the panel that the commandant would give his statements at 12 noon yesterday but the officer and the lawyers both failed to turn up during the day.
Acting on the intimation send by AR authority regarding threats being issued to the AR witnesses by underground outfits, the State Govt had deployed security forces in and around the State Guest House to ensure safety and security of AR witnesses during the Commission's proceedings.
Earlier the panel had issued the same summon to the same personnel however, the latter refused to accept them saying that the BN had been shifted to Keithelmanbi from Kangla.
Of the five the commandant and the three personnel who gave their signature on the arrest memo however turned up before the panel on July 21, the source said adding that the counsel on behalf of the Assam rifles also assisted the commission from July 24.