Four years down the line, mother's wounded soul awaits justice
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 24 2013: Mother of Ngangbam Naoba alias Phulchand of Uripok Polem Leikai who was dragged away from his home and shot dead in the midnight of May 6, 2009 by police commandos is still awaiting a fair trial and justice.

Talking with The Sangai Express, the bereaved mother Ng Kamalini said that the pangs of losing her son has been only increasing even though it has been more than four years since Naoba was shot dead.

With teary eyes Kamalini said, "I would like to see justice is delivered in the cold blooded murder of my son while I'm alive" .

Recalling the horrifying incident, Kamalini said it was a day of wedding in the neighbourhood, when police commandos came calling Naoba at around midnight of May 6, 2009 .

Thinking that it was some local people calling, the front door was opened.

Without saying anything, the commandos barged in and dragged away Naoba from his bed through the back door.

Then they pumped in several rounds of bullets into Naoba's body killing him there in the most brutal manner.

Mother of Ngangbam Naoba

Although Naoba was tagged a PREPAK cadre posthumously, the outfit came out with a clarification through media that it had no connection with him, Kamalini said.

Naoba had returned home not long back after completing class XI in a school at Vellore, Tamil Nadu when his young life was suddenly cut short.

"My son was dragged away from his bed in front of my eyes but the police commandos had to audacity to claim that Naoba first opened fire towards them", Kamalini recalled.

Contending that Naoba was not an insurgent and pointing out that he was shot dead in cold blood, Kamalini filed a petition at Gauhati High Court on March 31, 2010 .

Subsequently, the High Court issued a notice on April 5 directing the District Judge, Manipur East to conduct an enquiry and complete within six months.

Even as police authority was also asked to give their statements, but the case was somehow put in a dormant state since April 22 same year, lamented the bereaved mother.

Questioning why due process of law was not followed even if his son had committed something wrong and must be punished accordingly, Kamalini said, "I can never forget the dinner I shared with my son on the last day of his life where he offered me a piece of fish as if it was final gift of his life to me" .

She further informed that she and 12 other victim families like her, under the aegis of Human Rights Alert, attended a healing class from September 30 to October 2 this year organised by the Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong at Kaziranga, Assam.

During the healing class, Hong Kong based doctors collected their (victim families) testimonies.

Meanwhile, Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association Manipur (EEVFAM) secretary Nina Ningombam decried that Assam Rifles Major involved in several cases of extra judicial killings has been honoured by conferring Ashok Chakra.

Saying that they are awaiting Supreme Court's judgement with regard to several cases of extra judicial killings perpetrated by Assam Rifles and police commandos, Nina said EEVFAM would not rest until justice is done.

She further conveyed gratitude to Just Peace Foundation for giving loans at minimal interest rate to victim widows who are members of EEVFAM.

She also sought attention of the Government to pay a little attention to the plight of the victim widows.