Case hearing of the BT Road July 23, 2009 incident ; Court fixes next date of hearing on Feb 20
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 02 2016: Sessions Court, Imphal West has fixed the next date of hearing of the the July 23 BT Road killing case on February 20 as prime accused Thounaojam Herojit failed to appear before the Court today.

The case proceeding of the Sessions trial case number 57 of 2015, 'CBI versus Y Munal and eight others' was to be held at Sessions Court, Imphal West today.

During the hearing, defence counsel, S Lakhikanta pleaded with the Court to postpone the trial as one of the accused was unable to appear before the Court.

He then submitted Herojit's statements given to local and National newspapers and electronic media.

Case hearing of the BT Road July 23, 2009 incident

The defence counsel told the Court that Herojit is now traceless and he needs to establish communication with him.

After hearing both the sides, the Court fixed February 20 as the next date of hearing.

All the other accused, numbering 8, were present in the Court during today's hearing.

After Tehelka published the tell tale photos of the infamous incident, CBI started probing the incident.

Regarding the PIL filed by Sanjit's mother Chungkham Taratombi, a division bench of Gauhati High Court passed an order to hand over the case to an independent agency like CBI on December 23, 2009 .

On December 31, 2009, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi announced that the State Government would formally recommend the CBI to take over the July 23 BT Road case.

Later, CBI submitted charge sheet against nine police personnel including the then City police station OC Y Munal in connection with the incident.

The case was transferred from Sessions Court, Imphal West to Sessions Court, Manipur East on September 28, 2010 .

Of the 79 prosecution witnesses submitted by CBI, the first witnessed deposed before the Court on January 5, 2012 .

On November 23, 2014, the case was received from Sessions Court, Manipur East by Sessions Court, Imphal West again.

So far, 74 prosecution witnesses including Sanjit's mother Taratombi have appeared before the Court.