Pangei Massacre: Activist suspects foul play by SIT of CBI
Source: IT News

Imphal, January 12 2020: In a press release by Extrajudicial Executive Victim families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) President Renu Takhellambam and Human Rights Alert (HRA) Executive Director Babloo Loitongbam welcome the order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East, directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct further investigation on the Pangei killing of 9 April 2002 .

The Order clearly brought out the casual nature of the CBI investigation carried out on the extrajudicial execution in Manipur conducted in pursuance to the Supreme Court judgment in EEVAM vs Union Of India case.

In this judgment CBI was directed to constitute a special established prima facie extra-judicial execution and lodge necessary FIRs and to complete the investigations by 31 December 2017 and prepare charge sheets.

Extrajudicial Executive Victim families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM)

In pursuance to the judgment 39 FIRs were lodged.

More than two years have passed since the deadline is gone, yet only 13 charge sheets and 7 closure reports were filed.

The case of killing of Asem Romajit and Yumnam Robita at Pangei Bazar is one such case where the closure report was submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East (CJM) .

EEVFAM and HRA find this finding unacceptable as the District judge had already found prima facie extrajudicial execution in the judicial inquiry conducted in 2012 on the direction of Guwahati High Court, Imphal Bench.

The family of Romajit and Robita along with EEVFAM, therefore, filed a protest petition challenging closure report on the ground that CBI intentionally chose not to appreciate the statements of key eye witnesses.

It is a perfunctory investigation as the CBI is trying to shield the personnel of CRPF from criminal prosecution.

It is highly disturbing to note that in the 13 charge sheets filed till date more than 70 Manipur police personnel are indicted; but not a single personnel of the armed forces of the Union.

No charge was pressed against the armed forces of the Union despite clearly laying out evidences of their armed forces of the Union are the accused.

EEVFAM is currently challenging six such closure reports in different magistrate court of Manipur.

EEVFAM and HRA sincerely hope that the CBI/SIT will carry out an independent, impartial through and prompt investigation in the interest of justice.