WCAL demands punishment of perpetrators
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 23 2021:
The 12th Death Anniversary of Thokchom Rabina and Chungkham Sanjit was observed by Working Committee of the Apunba Lup (WCAL), JAC and family members by offering floral tributes to the portraits of the deceased at their respective residences on Friday, with strict adherence to Covid-19 SOPs.
In a statement, WCAL co-ordinator Phulindro Konsam said that AFSPA 1958 is a British-era draconian Act meant to suppress the people.
In 1960, the government of India declared hill regions of the state as "disturbed" to impose AFSPA, before bringing the entire Manipur under the repressive act to give the army additional powers and granting impunity to the army to violate basic human rights.
The first well-known victims of the atrocities of the security forces include Valley Rose of Ukhrul district, Sanjita of Jiri and many others, while there are many more still staying hiding out of fear and stigma.
However, the Thangjam Chanu Manorama rape and murder case is one of the well-documented cases, as it triggered condemnations not only from across India but the world over, he stated.
Emboldened by the acts of Indian security forces, even the law enforcing agencies of the state including the commandos have been indiscriminately committing the same crimes, even though they are not covered under AFSPA, he lamented.
One such act was the July 23 fake encounter case of 2009, in which one pregnant woman Thokchom Rabina, who was out shopping in Khwairamband Keithel, was fatally shot on the head.
At the same time, Chungkham Sanjit Meetei of Khurai was gunned down inside Maimu Pharmacy in Gambhir Singh Market.
Despite the police claiming it as a real encounter, the matter was exposed after Tehelka magazine published report with photographic evidences that contradicted the police's claims, the co-ordinator recalled.
Subsequently, protests were launched against the killing of Rabina and Sanjit.
Unable to bear with the pressure of the people, the case was handed over to the CBI, in addition to the High Court issuing an order to CBI to investigate the case, which then led to the arrest of nine police personnel.
The charge sheet was filed and the trial commenced shortly after, Phulindro further recalled.
During the course of CBI investigation (accused no 1) head constable Herojit confessed to shooting at Sanjit six times with his (Herojit) service pistol, an affidavit of which was submitted to the court.
The then union minister had also directed the state government to submit a detailed report of the fake encounter case, in addition to taking up strict action on the same, he recounted.
After Sanjit's family and Apunba Lup requested CBI to reopen the case, the investigating agency made an appeal to reopen the case on February 14, 2017, which was accepted by Imphal West Session Court.
Consequently, reinvestigation process began with questioning of the then Additional SP Jhalajit.
However, the present status of the case is still unknown and the people have been left asking whether the ruling government is refusing to take any action on the matter, he added.
Observing that justice has been served in other states with regard to cases similar to the July 23 of Manipur; Phulindro remarked that the same cannot be said for the state.
As such, he urged CBI to conduct further investigation and file supplementary charge sheet of the case, while demanding the government to take strict action against the police personnel and government officials involved in the encounter case, thereby upholding the trust of the people.
Reacting to the Supreme Court's deliberations and judgments on awarding compensations in some of the fake encounter cases, the co-ordinator contended that what Apunba Lup wants is justice and strict punishment of the guilty personnel involved, not money.
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