Not All Convinced CBI Has Water Tight Case, Possibility Of Loopholes Not Ruled Out
CBI charge sheets offer balm to scars of 7/23/'09
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 10, 2010: While the charge sheets filed by the CBI against nine policemen, including two Inspectors has brought a ray of hope that justice may finally be delivered in the controversial killing of Ch Sanjit and Th Rabina on July 23, 2009, at BT Road, there are some who are not yet fully convinced that the CBI has an air tight case.

In another development, the warrant of arrest issued against the nine cops named in the charge sheets has now reached the office of the CBI.

Contrary to earlier reports, Inspector Munal, who was then the Officer-in-Charge of City Police has been granted bailable warrant, while the rest have been slapped with non-bailable warrants.

So far, none of the nine accused cops have been arrested, but they are to be produced before the Court by September 27. Expectedly, the news of the charge sheets filed by the CBI has been received positively by the bereaved family members of Ch Sanjit of Khurai and Th Rabina, who was then in an advanced stage of pregnancy, when she was killed in the firing.

Pressure groups, which led a prolonged campaign seeking justice as well as the resignation Chief Minister O Ibobi on moral ground, too are on a high, hoping that justice would be delivered and the guilty punished accordingly.

During the course of the investigation, CBI officials, besides interrogating several sources also conducted spot assesssment of BT Road and the pharmacy where Sanjit was shot dead.

However there are some who doubt that the CBI has an air tight case.

CBI officials during a spot study of the pharmacy where Sanjit was shot dead

"The possibility of loopholes in the charge sheets filed by the CBI cannot be totally ruled out," said a senior Government official on condition of anonymity.

The charge sheets have not specifically noted who did what on that day, he said and added that the charge sheets may not be altogether free from errors.

The Home Ministry has also directed that no Government officials should make any public comment on the matter.

Despite the words of caution not to be overawed by the latest development, the family members of the two victims see a ray of hope in the course of action taken up by the CBI.

"The legal steps taken up by the CBI has made it easier for me to relax though I am still waiting for the day when the killers of my sons receive their due punishment," said Taratombi, mother of the late Ch Sanjit.

The three younger brothers of Sanjit are still in a state of trauma and it has been a hard task to raise them to become good citizens of the land, said Taratombi.

Social worker, K Seityajit, who hails from the same locality as Sanjit and was the consultant of the Khurai JAC at that time, expressed hope that justice will be delivered finally.

After Tehelka came out with the series of damning photographs, which showed Sanjit being accosted by police commandos, being pushed inside Maimu pharmacy and later coming out with his lifeless body, the State erupted in protest against what they alleged was a fake encounter.

Police had claimed that Sanjit was killed in a shoot out and even showed a hand gun, that was purportedly used by him.

However this has been quashed as an eye wash, by the CBI in its charge sheet.

The two localities, where the victims belonged, Khurai Sajor Leikai (Sanjit) and Th Rabina (Lamshang), had formed their own JACs to demand justice and fitting punishment of the police commandos involved in the alleged fake encounter.

The Apunba Lup had also backed the move launched by the two JACs and classes were boycotted for nearly four months, jeopardising the academic career of many students.

Interestingly, along with the CBI taking up the case, the State Government has also instituted a Judicial Inquiry under retired Judge of the Gauhati High Court.