Impahl, September 09, 2010:: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed chargesheet in the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal against the eight Manipur police commandos and the then Officer-in-Charge of City Police Station, Imphal under various sections of IPC in connection with the BT Road firing incident of July 23 last year in which a young man Ch Sanjit and a young pregnant woman Rabina Devi were killed.

The accused persons were chargesheeted under section 34 in read with 302, 218, 203 IPC and also under substantive offences.

The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal has taken cognizance of the chargesheet and also issued warrant of arrest against the accused persons.

Meanwhile, 14 police commandos of Imphal West district police are reported to have moved the court for anticipatory bail.

Their petitions for anticipatory bail would be heard tomorrow in the Court of CJM, Imphal.

A press release issued by CBI (Information Section) in New Delhi today informed that in Writ Petition (Crl.) No.77/2009 filed by mother of the deceased, the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench passed an order on August 25, 2009 to treat the complaint dated 7.8.209 of the mother as FIR, following which the City PS, Imphal (W) registered FIR dated 26.8.2009 Under Section 302/34 IPC and Section 2(3) Arms Act.

She alleged in the complaint that her son was shot dead arbitrarily by the Manipur Police Commandos.

The Gauhai High Court, Imphal Bench vide its order dated 23.12.09 transferred the investigation of FIR of City PS, Imphal (W) to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

As per the Manipur Police version, the FIR was lodged with the City PS against an unknown youth on 23.7.2009, who was allegedly shot dead in retaliatory firing by Police Commandos, on BT Road.

The CBI press release stated that pursuant to the High Court orders, CBI registered a case against some personnel of Manipur Police Commando on January 16 this year corresponding to the FIR of City PS.

However, during the investgation, another case was also registered by CBI, corresponding to Imphal City PS case.

Investigation disclosed that on July 23 last year, the Manipur police commandos were doing their routine frisking on BT Road and then came across one youth who fired at them and ran towards the east and mingled with the crowd.

The police also fired on the youth in retaliation.

In the firing incident, five persons were injured and one pregnant woman was killed.

Police cordoned the area and started search operations.

The youth who was present on BT Road was picked up by police and taken inside the store room of Social Time Emporium/Maimu Pharmacy.

He was not armed at that time and was accosted by the commandos and shot dead by them and a pistol was shown falsely recovered from him.

Investigation further revealed that there was no such pistol in possession of the youth and police planted the same after it was picked up from nearby Gambhir Singh Shopping Arcade, minutes before the encounter.

Further the press release reminded the public that the above findings of the CBI are not the final proof of the guilt of the accused.

Under the Indian Law, the accused are presumed to be innocent till their guilt is finally established after a fair trial, the CBI's press release added.

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