Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 19 2010:
Even though court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to carry out investigation into a case of alleged arrest and subsequent killing of a person, no necessary action required for the investigation into the case was found taken up till date.
On March 9, 2004, one Khundrakpam Tejkumar @ Gandharva who was allegedly picked up by the troops of 19 Assam Rifles posting at Yaingangpokpi in a Gypsy Maruti vehicle in broad daylight, at about 1.30 pm from Uripok Laikhurembi Leikai where annual Yaoshang sports meet was going on.
He was taken away by the troops and killed in a "fake encounter" at a place near NG Mani College, Chairenthong, Imphal east district.
The family members of the victim charged in a petition filed in the court of Gauhati High Court challenging the report of the 19 Assam Rifles to the Lamlai police.
As per report lodged by the Assam Rifles with regard to the killing of Tejkumar to Lamlai police station stated that he was killed in an encounter but family challenged the version as false and fabricated.
The writ petition of the family members of the victim was filed on January 24, 2005 in which Gauhati High Court directed the Additional District Magistrate, Manipur West to conduct an enquiry.
The enquiry report submitted on May 31, 2008 also alleged that Tejkumar was brutally tortured and killed in the custody by the personnel of the Assam Rifles.
High Court disposed the case on March 25, 2009 directing the union government and Assam Rifles authority to pay a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the victim family.
The court further directed the CBI to investigate into the case observing that the investigating officers have miserably failed to reach to its logical conclusion and to submit its final reports for initiation of criminal trial against the personnel of the 19 Assam Rifles.
Over and above, the court in ruling had observed that there is likelihood of its criminal investigation being completion in near future so as to punish the culprits for obvious reason and to prevent repetition of such crime in future.
Following the order of the court, the joint secretary (Home), government of Manipur has issued an official notification for entrusting the investigation of the case to the CBI om March 9, 2005 .
The order also extended the power and jurisdiction of the members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment in the whole of the state for carrying out the investigation.
However, the same was not enforced till date, the court in an hearing observed and issued rule nisi to the CBI which is returnable within four week time from the date of passing the order.