Imphal, August 31: In connection with the probe conducted by the Army Court of Inquiry, blood samples of thirty one AR personnel including two majors were handed over to the RIMS Forensic Department for DNA testing today.

According to reports received here, blood samples were collected from the AR personnel at RIMS between 12.30 pm and 4 pm.

However the blood samples of two AR personnel will be collected tomorrow as the duo failed to turn up today at the Hospital.

Meanwhile, People Action Committee Against Brutal Custodial Killing of Thangjam Manorama Devi, Bamon Kampu (PAC) has expressed its apprehensions that the blood samples of the AR personnel would be tampered to cover up their heinous crime.

In a statement, PAC said Forensic Science report clearly stated that Manorama was raped by 17 AR personnel before being shot to death on the intervening night of July 10 and 11.It also said that the brutal killing of Manorama by personnel of 17 AR is a well known fact as she was picked by the AR personnel in front of her own family members.

Even though the public has no knowledge about the identity of the AR personnel who had raped Manorama on that fateful night, the AR officer who led the AR troop on that particular night knows very well the personnel who had committed the act and it should be his duty to pin point the guilty personnel, said PAC.

Referring to a rape case committed by CRPF personnel on July 19, 2000 at Lamdan under Churachandpur Dist where the guilty personnel were set free by booking some innocent persons not involved in the crime, PAC questioned whether the AR personnel were trying to give the blood sample of some innocent personnel for testing in order to save the skin of the guilty AR personnel.

It also stated that the AR authorities instead of punishing the guilty personnel are trying to cover up their crime by asking for a DNA test where the blood sample of innocent AR personnel could be given for testing.

Coming down heavily on the AR authorities , PAC said that the AR authorities should stop shielding the guilty personnel and bring them forward so that they may be booked and punished according to the law of the land instead of trying to hoodwink the people with some concocted stories.

Comment