HRA, EEVFAM appeal MHA for prosecution sanction
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 11 2020: The Human Rights Alert (HRA) and the Extrajudicial Execution Victims Families Association Manipur (EEVFAM) have urged the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defence to grant prosecution sanction against the armed forces involved in extrajudicial executions in connection with the investigation being conducted by CBI/SIT.

A joint letter sent by HRA and EEVFAM to the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affair and the Secretary Ministry of Defence recently mentioned that the State Government has granted prosecution sanction against all the personnel of Manipur police who have been listed in the charge sheets submitted by the CBI/SIT regarding alleged fake encounter/extrajudicial killing cases and the necessary trials are underway at various Courts.

This was conveyed by some functionaries of the two organisations on the sideline of a press meet held today.

Though it was stated that most of the counter-insurgency or military operations were carried out by combined teams of State and Central forces, no personnel of Central armed forces have been charge sheeted.

It explained that in the case of the extrajudicial killing of Thangjam Thoithoi alias Anilkumar by a combined team of 3rd IRB, Imphal West commando, Imphal East commando and 18th Sikh Regiment, CBI/ SIT registered an FIR and after conducting inquiry, submitted charge sheets against nine Manipur police personnel in the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West after obtaining necessary prosecution sanction from the State Government.

However, even though the investigation revealed involvement of army personnel, with the charge sheet even stating that army personnel of 18 Sikh Regiment namely; Major Kamal Sajgotra, ex Havildar Sarvjit Singh and Havildar Baljit, fired their weapons during the encounter, they were not charge sheeted as the Union Govt has not yet granted prosecution sanction against them.

It contended that the army personnel are equally liable to be prosecuted along with the nine police personnel for the extrajudicial killing, but till date, no criminal proceeding has been initiated against them, due to lack of prosecution sanction.

As such, the two associations urged the ministries to promptly grant prosecution sanction under the provisions of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act at the earliest.

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