Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 18 2010:
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has appealed to the Government of Manipur as well as the Government of India to guarantee safety of Thokchom Nimai and his family while he is undergoing treatment.
It also urged upon the authorities concerned to guarantee safety of all witnesses in the Inao murder case as well as Nimai's shooting incident be provided protection by the State Government until the case if finally disposed off by a competent court.
According to a press release issued by the AHRC, Thokchom Nimai, father of Thokchom Inao was shot in front of his house at about 10.30 pm of June 10.Since then, Nimai is in undergoing treatment in a state of coma in critical conditions.
Before he was shot, Nimai was pursuing a case against Manipur police commandos who had allegedly shot dead his son Inao on July 30 last year.
Police commandos and officers attached to 28 Assam Rifles arrested Inao alias Herojit from his elder sister's house at Pangaltabi Awang Leikai on July 30 last year.
The next day, police informed the family that Inao was shot dead in an armed encounter along the road connecting Waithou and Thiyam.
According to a case registered at Lilong police station, Inao was accused of being a UNLF cadre.
However, the OC of Lilong police station had recorded in the case file that "certified that the deceased Thokchom Inao alias herojit Singh, aged 27 years, son of Th Nimai Singh of Chilai Awang Leikai is not a hardcore member of the UNLF.
The fact is true to the best of my knowledge", the AHRC quoted.
On September 7 last year, Nimai filed a complaint at the office of SP Thoubal and the DGP requesting the officers to initiate an enquiry concerning the murder of his son.
However, as the police officers took up no action upon the complaint, Nimai approached the National Human Rights Commission as well as the Gauhati High Court.
Subsequently, a Magisterial Enquiry was instituted into the murder case of Th Inao.
But Nimai was shot by unidentified person from close range at his home at about 10.15 pm of June 10 this year.
On the next day, two persons came to the house of Nimai claiming they were from the media.
They threatened Nimai's family that if Nimai survived he would be shot again.
But before the two unknown persons could leave, police officers from Sugnu police station came to Nimai's house.
The police officers could apparently identify the two unidentified persons as their fellow officers working with the State police commando unit.
According to the AHRC, Nimai's family strongly suspected police commandos and officers of 28 Assam Rifles behind Inao's murder and attempted murder of Nimai.
It was by sheer chance that the disguise of the two police officers who visited the family to threaten them was exposed, the AHRC added.
The AHRC's letter of appeal was addressed to the Union Defence Minister, Union Home Minister, NHRC Chairperson, Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Chief Minister of Manipur, the Chief Secretary and the DGP.