Imphal, September 24: The C Upendra commission of inquiry began taking statements in connection with the June 18 public uprising from today onwards.

N Bhattaraj, under secretary, and Kh Netra Singh, joint secretary, appeared before the commission on behalf of the home department.

The district commissioner, Imphal west, Haobijam Imocha Singh also testified before the commission today in connection with the June 18 incident.

In his statement, the DC, Imphal west revealed that on June 13 he received intimation of possible trouble in the Greater Imphal area from the SP, Imphal west and accordingly he made preparation for imposition of prohibitory orders in the said area under section 144oftheCrPC.During cross examination by the commission's counsel, the DC said curfew had been imposed in the Imphal area at 1 pm on June 18.Quizzed by counsel as to whether imposition of curfew came after the incidents of arson of government buildings and firing by security forces, he maintained that the events of destruction which took place on June 18 occurred only after the 'ensuence and enforcement of the curfew'.

In further cross examination, the DC said that security arrangements on June 18 in the Greater Imphal area were initially sufficient, but due to the huge turnout of the public, the security forces deployed were no longer sufficient to control the crowd.

He added that he could not say exactly which forces woe deployed after the imposition of curfew.

He observed that state forces were seen present and added that other forces might have been deployed.

He also told the commission that security forces are requisitioned by the state home department and not the DC, though he is given the authority of district magistrate.

He added that he cannot say whether there were any paramilitary forces deployed at the relevant time on that day.

He further disclosed that he was inside the Raj Bhavan from 1 pm to 2 pm on June 18, but was not an eyewitness of the burning of government buildings, offices of political parties, Assembly secretariat, chief minister's secretariat, official bungalow of Speaker and official quarters of MLAs.

He maintained that he came to know of these incidents at around 4:30 pm to 5 pm when he returned to his office bungalow from the Raj Bhavan.

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