Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 02:
Bereaved mother of AS Somatai, who was killed by State police commandos after picking up from his Tangkhul Avenue, Imphal residence on November 30 last year has sought the intervention of Governor in doing justice to her slain son.
In a representation, the mother, AS Pahonla requested the Governor for giving order to the Chief Minister for giving justice by taking up appropriate action against the guilty police commandos besides providing ex-gratia.
She asserted that her son was forcibly arrested by some police commandos from his Tangkhul Avenue residence in the presence of his sister, friends and neighbours on November 30, 2003 without issuing any arrest memo and was gunned down at Laipham Khunou (Paomei colony) on the same night.
The Tangkhul People�s Organization, Imphal; Tangkhul Avenue Authority and Tangkhul Students� Union, Imphal which took up the issue on behalf of the bereaved family members refused to take back the body demanding punishment of the police commandos involved in the killing.
Following the firm stand of these organizations, Chief Minister agreed to order a Magisterial inquiry into the case during a joint meeting on December 12, 2003.Accordingly an order was issued by Joint Secretary of the State in this connection and appointed District Magistrate, Imphal East District Y Surchandra as the authority to conduct the enquiry within a month, the poor mother recounted.
The mother complained that although the official notice of the said inquiry was issued on January 24, 2004, the same was handed over to the witnesses only on January 29 and the summon notice on January 30, giving only a day�s notice to be presence before the enquiry panel.
This was nothing by delaying tactics employed by the Government to sideline the issue, she said.
She further informed that the four witnesses who have given their statements to the Magistrate on January 31, 2004, namely As Yuimi, M Ngaranmi, Sotani and Pemiso have also maintained that her son was an innocent student and was killed by the police commandos after arresting him.
The mother further said in the representation that her son was studying in Birmangol College, Sawombung and he had no record of any involvement in anti-National activities.
Peace symposium: The Co-ordination Committee for Peace and Normalcy in Manipur would be organizing a symposium on November 7 at 9.30 am at Hotel White Palace, MG Avenue her at Imphal.