Imphal, October 05 2009: With the SSP, Additional SP and Commando OC of Imphal West police failing to turn up before the Manipur Human Rights Commission and give their statement in connection with the July 23 BT Road incident, the rights body is all set to issue warrants against the said officers.

Declaring this while speaking to mediapersons today, MHRC member RK Rajendra said that the police officers were summoned as per the provisions under Section 13.However the said police officers have refused to acknowledge the summons of the MHRC and have not turned up to give their statements, said Rajendra and added that this amounts to contempt of the Commission.

Since the acts of the police officers amount to contempt of the Commission, the DGP will be issued warrants to bring the police officers before the Commission and give their statements, said the MHRC member.

The matter will also be highlighted to the Union Home Minister and the Governor, said Rajendra.

Asserting that the MHRC took up the case to ascertain the facts and circumstances of the July 23 incident, RK Rajendra explained that it has taken up the investigation not as an affront on the Government.

The very act of ignoring the summons of the MHRC is akin to viewing it as an adversary of the Government, said Rajendra.

Taking the law and order situation into consideration as well as the manner in which the MHRC has been wrongly viewed, an application will be submitted to provide foolproof security all its members, said RK Rajendra further.

Taking strong exception to the conduct of some MLAs, Rajendra said that after attending the function in connection with International Peace Day at GM Hall on October 2, MHRC member Ng Nongyai was questioned by MLAs E Dwijamani and Lokeshore why the Commission had quoted the Chief Minister in the newspapers.

"Do you know who has appointed you to the Commission ?" was a question the two MLAs asked, alleged Rajendra.

Such conduct violated the accepted protocol, he alleged and added that in the order or precedence, MHRC members come higher than MLAs.

The Governor and the Chief Minister attended the said International Peace Day function as chief guest and president respectively.

Taking serious note of the conduct of the MLAs, RK Rajendra said that the Governor would be approached to take up fitting action against the said MLAs.

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