Investigation into alleged extra-judicial killings
Charge sheet submitted against five more cops
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 30 2019: CBI/SIT submitted charge sheet against five police personnel 'before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West yesterday, in connection with the alleged encounter/extrajudicial killing of one Khumbongmayum Orsonjit at Taothong Makha Leikai (Lamshang PS) on March 16, 2010 .

After registering a Cril misc case, the Court fixed June 3 for taking cognizance of the charge sheet which was submitted by DSP, VP S Mann, CBI and DSP, DS Chauhan, CBI STB, New Delhi, against then Havildar Laishram Premkumar.

s/o Lukhoi of Haobam Marak Keisham Leikai, then Havildar Leichongbam Romesh s/o Chaoba of Vijang (near Tuibong forest gate, Churachandpur), then Constable Md Ibomcha Shah s/o Md Latif Ali of Yairipok Tulihal, then Constable Ahkub Luther Kom s/o (L) Sothang Kom of Thayong village, Lamlai, and then Havildar Khwairakpam Somendro s/o Ibochou of Thanga Oinam Khwairakpam Leikai.

The CBI charge sheet mentioned that CBI/SIT started investigating the death of Khumbongmayum Orsonjit (which is case No 2 of the Justice Hedge Commission) based on an FIR of Lamshang PS of March 16, 2010 submitted by the accused Havildar Laishram Premkumar.

The report filed by L Premkumar stated that on that day (March 16), at around 2.30 pm, after receiving reliable information that armed cadres were roaming on an Activa in and around Tharoijam and Taothong area, a police team rushed to the spot and conducted frisking-checking at the inter village road of Tharoijam and Taothong, at Taothong Makha Leikai area.

During the check, a person riding an Activa was seen coming towards them and as such they signed the individual to stop.

However, the report claimed that the unknown driver (Kh Orsonjit) began firing towards the police team and as such, the police team retaliated resulting in Orsonjit being shot to death on the spot.

The report continued that one .32 pistol with two live ammunition rounds and empty cases along with one mobile phone and an RC book of the vehicle, were recovered from the deceased as well.

The charge sheet explained that as per the investigation by CBI/SIT, it came to light that the deceased was working with M/S Zingchar Bio Initiatives, as an oil refiller for BTS tower of Tata Indicom and in the morning of day of the incident, he had left his home at around 8.30 am after informing his mother that he was going to get his vehicle repaired.

On the same day, Orsonjit's father received a phone call at around 11 am froma person who introduced himself as friend of his son, intimating that his son had been arrested by commando personnel from near OK Hotel and upon enquiries by the family members, it was learned that Orsonjit was arrested by commando personnel in civvies, from OK Hotel near MG Avenue and was taken away in a Rakshak vehicle.

Some of the family members then went to Imphal West commando complex at around 2 pm the same day to enquire about Orsonjit and while they were giving details about Orsonjit, a message was received in the police wireless set that an Activa borne youth had been killed in an encounter with a commando team.

The charge sheet continued that when the family members asked about the incident, the police only informed them that the person killed in the encounter is very young but refused any further information despite repeated requests.

Later, at around 5.30 pm of the same day, it was learned that it was Orsonjit who had been killed in the supposed encounter and his body had been deposited at RIMS morgue, after which some of the family members went to RIMS morgue and confirmed the body as that of Orsonjit.

It was further mentioned that during the investigation by CBI, some of the witnesses from near the incident site, stated that the incident occurred at around 1 pm and 1.10 pm of May 16.The post mortem report of the deceased also mentioned that 5 bullet entrance and exit wounds were found on the body, apart from the presence of lacerated wounds on the fingers of the deceased.

The charge sheet further mentioned that as per the report of the commando personnel, the deceased had fired a single bullet at them and as such, firing 41 bullets against the deceased definitely comes under excessive use of force, especially when the deceased was alone and not more than two live cartridges and one empty were recovered from the encounter site and the five trained commando personnel had the opportunity to overpower the deceased person.

The CBI charge sheet further mentioned that the commando personnel had created a false story to screen themselves from the offence committed by them and added that as per the fact, evidences and circumstance, the 5 police commando personnel are liable for prosecution.

A such, CBI/SIT prayed for taking cognizance of offence against the accused commando personnel and to issue necessary notice against them.

The CBI also submitted that prosecution sanction against the accused commando personnel is awaited and will be submitted to the Court, when received from the competent authority.

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