Forensic experts report unearths 'fake' encounter by Assam Rifles
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 06 2014:
After Supreme Court appointed Commission recently ruled six encounter cases as 'fake' against the claim of the police, an in-depth examination report of forensic experts has now unearthed a fresh fake encounter committed by 20 Assam Rifles.
On June 1 of 2009 at around 8.15 pm, two persons were killed by Assam Rifles in an alleged gunfight at a place bordering Maipi and Angbrashu village under Tengnoupal sub-division in Chandel district.
Interestingly, a report of forensic experts has now proved that a G-3 assault rifle which AR claimed to have recovered from the possession of the two deceased is 'not serviceable' .
AR had claimed that the two persons were killed in retaliation after the duo opened fire to them.
On the contrary, the examination report of the forensic experts concluded that the G-3 rifle recovered from the duo turned out to be 'not serviceable' as the 'return spring' of the gun was found non-functional with non-alignment of its 'bolt extension housing' .
The report also claimed that a magazine of the gun said to have recovered from the two deceased is also not serviceable due to the absence of 'floor plate' .
The two persons killed in the alleged firing have been identified as Laishram Keshorjit (35) and Seram Priyokumar Meitei (36), both from Urup Litan Makhong.
Following the encounter, Major Abishek Bharti of 20 AR lodged an FIR to Kakching Police Station and handed over the dead bodies of the two slain.
According to the FIR, 'based on specific information about the movement of some armed valley based UG cadres at the area adjoining Maipi and Angbrashu village under Tengnoupal sub-division on June 1 of 2009, a team of 20 AR led by Major Abhisek Bharti was waiting to counter them' .
During the course, two individuals were seen moving suspiciously on the track which led to Angbrashu from Maipi at around 8.15 pm.
On being challenged by the troops to stop them, the duo opened fire towards them using automatic weapons.
Subsequently, the troops also retaliated and in the ensued encounter that lasted for around 30 minutes, both the persons were killed.
After the encounter, a search was conducted at the encounter site and they recovered one G-3 assault rifle with one live round in the chamber; two magazines of G-3 rifle; 19 live rounds of G-3 rifle ammunitions; one lathode with one live bomb in the chamber and one live bomb of lathode, the FIR stated.
Taking into account of jurisdiction of the encounter site, both the Kakching and Tengnoupal Police Stations lodged separate FIRs in connection with the incident.
However, the two FIRs were merged into one and a new FIR was bearing No 36 (6) 09 was lodged at Tengnoupal PS under Section 307/34 IPC, 20 UA (P) A Act, 25 (1-C) A Act and Explosive Substance Act.
On the other hand, families of the two deceased refuting the charges made by AR claimed that the duo were abducted from Moreh area by AR and tortured before killing them.
Sources pointed out that the G-3 assault rifle and lathode guns said to have recovered from the two deceased by AR were sent to Manipur State Forensic Science Laboratory for conducting ballistic test.
After careful examination of the weapons by experts of forensic science, a report was tabled concluding that the G-3 assault rifle is not serviceable.
In the advent of the in-depth report of forensic experts, now question has been raised whether the two persons were killed in fake encounter by AR.
Meanwhile, wives of the two deceased have filed a writ petition to Manipur High Court recently seeking legal help on the case.
Acting on the petition, the court has asked the concerned respondents including Union of India; Union Home Secretary; Commanding Officer of 20 AR; Manipur Government; DGP of Manipur and Superintendent of Police, Chandel to submit reports in connection with the case within six weeks.
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