Alleged extra-judicial killings : Decorated cop among 7 charge sheeted
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 11 2019:
Tightening the noose around policemen accused in alleged extra-judicial/fake encounter cases, the Session Judge of Imphal East, Maibam Manojkumar today framed charge sheets against six such policemen.
Ironically one among the six accused is a police officer of the rank of Sub-Inspector, who has received a gallantry award and another cop who has already been terminated from service.
After framing the charge sheets, the Court fixed September 19 as the date to explain the charges against the 7 cops including the Sub-Inspector, Potsangbam Tarunkumar.
The prosecution witnesses will also be heard on the day.
The cops named in the charge sheets are, Yeng-khom Keshorjit, Elangbam Abung, Chabungbam Sana-jaoba, Khullak Joseph, Md Islamuddin, and P Manira-tan, who has been terminated from service.
The Sub-Inspector filed a dispense before the Court.
The charge sheets were filed in connection with the killing of Md Zamir Khan on the intervening night of January 20 and 21 in 2012 at Kyamgei Shantipur Loukon.
In the submission to the Court, the PP of CBI said that the deceased Zamir Khan used to help his father in his dental clinic and in the morning of January 20, 2012 he had gone to his father's clinic and stayed there till 10 pm.
The CBI further submitted that the residue on the pistol were deliberately collected to match it forensically and added that no spent cartridges were recovered from the place of occurrence.
The CBI also argued that if police were reportedly able to recover the pin of a grenade allegedly thrown at them and if something as small as a pin was traceable, spent cartridges would have also been recovered if shots had been fired at the cops.
No police personnel were injured as the hand grenade reportedly exploded at the roadside, a little distance away from their Rakshak vehicle, the Special PP submitted and added that despite the reported explosion there was no damage on the vehicle.
Sub-Inspector Potsang-bam Tarunkumar was awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry in 2012 as well as his younger brother Maniratan, who has been terminated, submitted the CBI and claimed that Md Zamir Khan was intentionally killed to get the gallantry award.
On the other hand, the defence counsel argued that Md Zamir Khan was killed in retaliatory firing when he refused to stop for checking and instead lobbed a hand grenade and fired at the police personnel.
The defence counsel further argued that Md Zamir Khan was an active member of PULF and a splinter of a hand grenade, one IED and a pistol were recovered After hearing both sides, the Court observed that Md Zamir Khan was killed at Imphal East while the cops who killed him belonged to Imphal West police.
This shows that the policemen had crossed into another district with no authorisation from the higher authorities.
The Court further observed that as per the report of the accused, there were 3 or 4 other youths who ran away toward the paddy field after firing and throwing a bomb at the police team.
The police team fired a total of 16 bullets of which five hit the deceased but no one amongst the fleeing youths were injured, observed the Court.
Moreover the 5 bullets which killed Md Azam Khan were fired from close range, said the Court citing expert opinions.
The Court thus said that there are prima facie material or suspicion against the seven cops and levelled charges against them under Section 302 and 120B .
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