Manipur HC orders payment of Rs 5 lakh compensation to each family of Malom victims
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 05 2014 : After 14 years of the infamous Malom incident, the Manipur High Court on Friday directed to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each of the family of the ten persons who were gunned down by personnel of 8 Assam Rifles at Malom Boroi Makhong Bus Stand, Imphal West following a bomb blast triggered by unidentified persons on November 2, 2000 .

The direction was announced by a Division Bench of Manipur High Court comprising Chief Justice, Laxmikanta Mohapatra and Justice Kh Nobin.

According to the directive, the compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each of the family of the ten victims should be given by the respondents of the case.

The ten persons who were killed by stray of bullets from the personnel of 8 AR are Leisangthem (o) Sana (60) of Kabowakching Mayai Leikai; Gurumayum Bapu Sharma (49) of Lairenjam Mayai Leikai; Oinam Sanatomba (36) of Nambol Naorem Makha Leikai; Sinam Robinson (27) of Malom Tulihal Makha Leikai; Sinam Chandramani (15) of Malom Tulihal; Kangujam Bijoy (33) of Leimapokpam Makha Leikai; Tokpam Santikumar (16) of Malom Tulihal; Amakcham Raghumani (34) of Nambol Naorem Awang Leikai; Soibam Prakash (19) of Malom Tulihal and Kshetrimayum Inaocha (23) of Malom Tulihal.

It may be mentioned that Sinam Chandramani was awarded the National Child Bravery Award in the year 1988 .

Speaking to newspersons just after the announcement of the judgment, Advocate Sorensangbam Lakhikanta, counsel of petitioners of the case stated that the State Government constituted a Magisterial Enquiry into the Malom incident following public outrage, but failed to furnish detailed report that could pave way for justice to the victims.

He said that a writ petition was filed by families of the ten victims to Gauhati HC on September 9, 2002 seeking justice regarding the incident which the court admitted the case and subsequently directed District Judge, Manipur East to constitute an enquiry into the incident on two occasions.

The first one was on May 5, 2004 while the second direction on June 3, 2005.Accordingly, the District Judge, Manipur East constituted an enquiry into the incident and submitted its report back to the court on February 26, 2010, he informed.

According to the report, unidentified miscreants triggered a bomb nearby Malom Boroimakhong Bus Stand, while three convoys of 8 AR were passing through the area on November 2, 2000 at around 3.20 pm.

The AR convoys were coming from Imphal Tulihal Airport side and heading towards Nambol.

Just after the blast, the AR personnel got down from their vehicles and resorted to unprovoked firing killing seven persons.

The slain persons included two students who were standing at the bus stand; three persons who were coming in a scooter in between first and second vehicle of the AR convoy and two persons who were coming in a scooter in between second and third vehicle of the troops.

A person who was taking rest at a place around 100 meters from the spot where the blast took place was also shot dead by the AR personnel.

Another two persons from Makhathong who were passing nearby the spot were also gunned down by the personnel, the reports stated.

Notably, Assam Rifles in its statement submitted to the court had claimed that the ten persons were killed in cross firing following some unidentified persons fired towards the AR troops shortly after the blast.

Contradicting the statement, the enquiry report submitted to Gauhati High Court had clearly mentioned that there was no evidence found regarding any cross firing in the area and that the ten persons were killed by unprovoked firing by the AR troops.

Advocate Lakhikanta elaborated that Gauhati High Court referred further hearing of the case to Manipur High Court following its establishment in 2013 .

Accordingly, the court recorded statements from 18 prosecution witnesses and three respondent witnesses in connection with the case.

Final hearing of the case in Manipur High Court started on December 3, 2013 based on the statements given by the witnesses and 69-page enquiry report.

Accordingly, the court today directed to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each of the family of the ten victims.

It may be noted here that the infamous Malom incident triggered Irom Sharmila Chanu to launch her indefinite fast stir which has now entered 15th year demanding repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), 1958 .

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