Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 19:
The Officer-in-Charge of Porompat police, Haobijam Jogeschandra today testified before the Inquiry Commission set up to probe the circumstances leading to the death of three Kuki students in police firing at KR Lane on October 25 night last year.
Giving his testimony, the police officer said that at about 6.30 pm of October 25, he heard that there was an encounter at KR Lane and some UGs were shot dead.
After about 10 minutes he received a written report stating that there was an encounter between police commandos and underground cadres at KR Lane and in the ensuing gun fight three cadres were killed, said the OC.
He handed over the case to SI H Bighandhi Sharma to conduct the due investigation said the OC adding that he and SI then went to the site of the encounter.
On reaching the site, he came across three bodies lying on the ground but did not see any bullet marks on the wall near the three bodies, testified the OC.
When cross examined by the counsel on behalf of the victims, the OC said that though he heard about the encounter at about 6.30 pm, he did not immediately rush to the spot but did so only after getting the report from one SI Riyajuddin.
The OC further said that he did not visit the morgue on the day of the encounter and the following day too, and added that he had no idea if police commandos had earlier seized hand grenades with detonators and whether such items were available at the police station.
Jogeshchandra denied the suggestion that there was no encounter between police commandos and underground cadres at KR Lane on October 25.