Charge sheeted cops summoned on Oct 14
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 10 2019:
Three cops, then Havildar Khundongbam Inaobi of Yairipok, then Head Constable Thounaojam Herojit of Lamdeng Awang Leikai and then Constable Longjam Chingkheihunba of Keishamthong Longjam Leirak who were charge sheeted by the CBI in connection with the alleged fake encounter/extra judicial killing of one Ningombam Khaiba on November 13, 2006, the Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal East directed them to appear before the Court of the Session Judge Imphal East on October 14.It may be mentioned that Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal East took cognizance of the charge sheets submitted against the three cops on August 5 and had directed them to appear before the Court yesterday.
The trio surrendered themselves before the Court a few days later and after taking cognizance, the Court released them on furnishing a PR bond of Rs 1 lakh with one surety each.
Yesterday, after directing the three cops to appear before the Court of Session Judge Imphal East on October 12, CJM Imphal East also took up the process of committing the case before the Session Court concerned for the necessary trial.
It may also be mentioned that the charge sheet was initially submitted against five police personnel by the IO of the case, DSP B Ranjan Roy of CBI/ SCB, Kolkata, in May this year.
However, out of the five police personnel, two identified as then Constable Th Lungdim and then constable Pashel Angson Anal passed away.
The chargesheet was submitted after the necessary completion of the investigation by the CBI/ SIT as per a complaint filed by the accused police personnel before Lamlai PS.
The chargesheet mentioned that according to the police report, the incident occurred when the victim tried to snatch the service weapon belonging to Th Herojit while he was being detained by a commando team.
However, according to the family members of the victim who were present along with him (Khaiba) at the time of incident, 5 of them were forced down from their Maruti Omni van and then taken to the commando complex where they were kept blindfolded for around 30 minutes.
Explaining that the post mortem report of the victim suggested that he was shot from close range and from multiple directions, the charge sheet mentioned that the theory of accused commando personnel is taken on face value that the deceased tried to snatch his service weapon.
It also mentioned that being shot to death comes under excessive use of force specially when five trained commando personnel had the opportunity to overpower the deceased and accused the chargesheeted commando personnel of creating a false story to protect themselves.
The Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West in May this year, had allowed the prayer of the CBI to seize a 9 mm pistol (along with magazine) belonging to Th Herojit which was involved in the alleged fake encounter, from the custody of City police.
The same pistol had been in custody of City police in connection with the ongoing trial of the July 23 BT road firing incident.
The deceased Ningthoujam Khaiba alias Binoy of Keirenphabi was reportedly gunned down by Imphal West commando on November 13, 2006, a few hours after he was released from Sajiwa Central Jail.
At that time, the family members of the deceased alleged that a team of commando personnel stopped their vehicle (which was occupied by Khaiba, his father, brother and an Advocate) near NG Mani college and shot dead Khaiba on the spot after pulling him down from the vehicle.
Khaiba was released that day after he was detained under the National Security Act following his arrest by police from near Oinam Dam, Mayai Lambi, in October of 2005 .
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