Imphal, August 31: Officer-in-Charge of Irilbung PS has requested the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Imphal to issue an order for conducting DNA test of all the AR personnel involved in the arrest and killing of 32 year old Manorama Devi.

The army has already taken its decision to have DNA test for the personnel involved in the crime and has formally urged upon the State Govt for getting these test done expeditiously to ensure total transparency and early dispensation of justice.

Thanjam Manorama was found shot dead near Yaipharok Maring Village in Imphal East district on July 11 morning after being picked up by troopers of 17 AR from her Bamon Kampu residence around 12.30 am on the same day.

The OC who is also the Investigating Officer (IO) of one of the two FIRs registered in connection with the killing of Thanjam Manorama on Tuesday filed an application before the CJM Imphal requesting the Court to issue an order for conducting DNA test on the personnel of 17 AR who were involved in arresting Manorama, a highly placed source said.

Having heard the application, the Court fixed the matter for hearing on Thursday.

It also registered the matter as a Cril Misc Case.

In his application, the IO, while divulging the progress of the investigation of the FIR case registered following a complaint filed by Th Dorendro, younger brother of the deceased Manorama, said that semen stains were detected on the undergarment (petticoat) of Manorama according to forensic reports.

Under such circumstances DNA test of the suspected personnel of 17 AR, who were involved in the arrest of Th Manorama on July 11 are "required unavoidably without any further delay" the IO of the FIR No 30 (7) 04 Irilbung PS under section 302/34 IPC said.

Hence the police officer prayed before the Court to issue an order to take photographs, blood samples and any other required samples from the personnel, which the Forensic Medicine Department of RIMS deem fit and proper to conduct test by observing formalities at the earliest in the interest of the investigation.

Particulars of the 17 AR personnel, the OC pointed out in his application include post/coy commander who detained the counter insurgency (CI) operation team, commander/commanders of the CI Ops team who were involved in the arrest of Th Manorama on July 11, Naib Subedar Digambar Dutt, Havildar Suresh, Riflemen Ajit Singh and Lotha Kumar, rifleman Lotha and Ajit Singh and all the other members of the CI operation who took part in the arrest/interrogation of the deceased.

It is learnt that a team of 17 AR also turned up before the court of CJM today.

Meanwhile the ongoing state sponsored inquiry panel headed by C Upendra Singh Rtd Dist and Session Judge cross examined Colonel Jagmohan Singh, Commandant of 17 AR in camera at the premises of Imphal Central jail today.

The in camera proceedings at the jail premises followed a ruling made by Guwahati High Court on Saturday.

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