Imphal, November 03 2010: State government has spent over Rs 10 lakh but the one-man Commission of Inquiry into the facts and circumstances leading to the July 23, 2009 shooting incident at Khwairamband Bazar is yet to be completed.

The inquiry commission was constituted by an order of the home Department issued on August 27, 2009, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 (60 of 1952) by appointing a One-Man Commission of Inquiry to be presided over by Justice Retd PG Agarwal (of the Gauhati High Court) to enquire into the circumstances leading to the firing incident on July 23 at/around B.T.Road at Imphal.

As per the order the terms of reference of the Commission were to find out facts & circumstances leading to the incident of firing and the death of Thokchom (O) Rabina Devi (23) wife of Th Chinglensana of Lamsang Bazar, Lamdeng Khunou and Chingkham Sanjit (22) son of Ch Khelen Meitei of Khurai Sajor Leikai and bullet injury to 5 others.

Recommendation to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future was the other term of reference of the commission which would submit its report to the State Government within a period of 2 (two) months from the date of issue of the notification.

Unable to complete the inquiry, the period of the commission has been extended several times.

Government is paying Rs 82,000 a month to the retired Judge heading the commission.

Besides this, government is bearing to and fro journey expenditure, lodging and other admissible expenses of the Judge who is a resident of Guwahati, Assam.

Moreover, government is deputing an IAS officer of the General Administrative Department with five to six staff members to assist the Judge.

Further security escort to the Judge, and the government counsel has cost a huge expenditure from the government exchequer.

The inquiry of the Commission started from September, 2009 and completed one year October last.

Hearings of the commission was conducted on the average of two per month.

Besides this, hearing was also conducted once in Guwahati and government had to bear all expenditures for it.

Government had also borne expenditure for Soma Choudury of New Delhi based Tahelka magazine who was summoned by the commission.

Government had spent over Rs 10 lakh till date for the commission, a government source estimated.

But so far there is no sign of completion of the inquiry even after 13 months.

On the other hand, the hearing of the Commission deferred today's hearing on account of applications received from the accused.

The police officers who were summoned by the commission did not turn up to the hearing today.

H Devendra, the then officer-in-charge of city unit of Imphal west police commando applied for deferring the taking of his statement before the commission.

The other officer, additional SP Ak Jhalajit, the then in-charge of Imphal police commando also prayed for adjournment in reply to the summon against him.

Devendra filed an application through his council for deferment of the hearing in view of the upcoming criminal trial case against him before the Session Judge, Imphal East scheduled for 12 Nov 2010 .

Both parties prayed for two weeks adjournment following which the judge has fixed November 19 as the next date of hearing.

Comment