Discovery of skulls and skeletal remains: COMGATS gears up for sustained agitation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 17 2015 : Committee on Mass Grave at Tombisana High School (COMGATS), a conglomerate of 21 organisations has theatened to launch massive agitation if the State Government fails to initiate a separate enquiry regarding the recovery of human skulls and skeletons from Tombisana High School complex.

Addressing a press meet at AMSU headquarters today, convener of COMGATS, Phulindro Konsam demanded that a separate probe panel consisting of retired Judge and other legal experts, forensic experts, human right activists and leaders of civil society organisations should investigate the case of discovery of the skulls and skeletons on December 25, 2014 .

He said that the decision of the Government to hand over the case to CBI is unacceptable and not welcomed.

From past experiences, it is clear that investigations conducted by the CBI are not brought to its logical conclusion.

There is strong possibility of State agencies covering up or destroying evidence, he said.

Further, he said the construction of New Market Shed should stop immediately till the investigation ends.

The place should be thoroughly excavated as there are possibilities of finding other skeletons too.

On the other hand, the whereabouts of the recovered skeletons are unknown and it has evoked a question on the deceitful move of the Government to destroy evidence, he said adding that the discovered skulls and skeletons should be kept at a common place .

Soon, a memorandum would be submitted to the Chief Minister and different forms of agitation would be launched if the Government fails to act accordingly.

Pointing out that many people of the State have disappeared involuntarily during the past decades, co-convener of COMGATS Joy Chingakham said it could not be ruled out that the skeletons found could be of those who disappeared involuntarily.

He also said the forensic department of Manipur has taken too long to bring out the results of the DNA test conducted.

AMSU president Th Naiiesh said that the Government is reluctant to conduct the enquiry when all the evidences are right with them.

The Government maybe try-ing to hold back the issue.This move of the Government has created doubts among the people whether the Government is there truly for the people or not.

It may be mentioned that the construction work of the New Market Shed has been stopped with the initiative of AMSU since Dec 30 .

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