Hearing on alleged extra judicial killings continues in New Delhi
Day I Army officer quizzed in connection with Azad Khan's case
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal
New Delhi, March 13 2013:
After over a week long hearing in Imphal, the SC constituted three member bench of the Inquiry Commission headed by Former SC Judge N Santosh Hegde today began their round of hearing on the alleged extrajudicial killings in Manipur at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
The other members of the Commission are former Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh and former DGP of Karnataka police, Ajay Kumar.
Witness Major Vijay Singh Balhara, then attached with the Assam Rifles here, deposed before the Commission today in connection with the killing of Md Azad Khan, who was allegedly dragged out from his house and shot in the paddy field in Phoubakchao on March 4, 2009 .
Incidentally, Md Azad Khan was just 14 years old when he was killed in 2009 .
Counsel for the complainants Advocate Mukul Sinha and Advocate Rakesh Meihoubam cross examined the witness.
Deposing before the Commission, Balhara stated that he acted, though the area did not fall under his jurisdiction, upon Grade AI information, which he said is the most 'reliable' and that needs no verification, but added that he did inform the headquarters, located then at Kakching.
At that point of time, the Major's area of jurisdiction was Sekmaijin and Phoubakchao fell under Mayang Imphal.
The officer also responded in the positive that his team and police commandos did participate in firing in the joint operation when information was received that some UGs were moving in Sekmaijin and Phoubakchao.
Balhara however denied that he travelled by a Tata mini truck, as stated in the affidavit filed by Bronson Thanga Cdo.
He also stated that neither he nor Thanga nor his team dragged and killed Md Azad Khan and added that no one planted a 9 mm pistol on the deceased.
The officer also denied ordering Thanga to take the body of the deceased to the police station.
Replying to further cross examinations by the Commission, Major Balhara stated that he participated in other operations (where about 5 UGs were killed) , conducted arrest (of about 30-35 UGs) during his three years posting in Manipur.
While the witness said he is aware of the Army's guidelines on Dos and Don'ts, his response to any information about the army personnel being punished or inquiry conducted during his posting was negative.
The place of sitting in Delhi according to Hegde was fixed at the request of the witness(s) (to be examined) while emphasizing "punctuality and cooperation" on the part of the respondents.
The witness could not appear at the stipulated time and the day's proceedings could only begin at noon.