Imphal, March 02 2009: In a significant ruling today, the Imphal Bench of the Gauhati High Court has directed the Government of Manipur, DGP and SPs concerned to pay necessary compensation to bereaved family members of two persons claimed to have been killed in separate incidents of encounter and prosecute the police personnel involved in the killing.

The ruling passed by Justices Maibam Binoykumar and AC Upadhyai have also given four weeks time to implement the directive for payment of compensation and prosecution involved police personnel.

The ruling of the Court related to the incidents of killing 35-year old Nongmaithem Micheal s/o N Jayantakumar of Keishampat Keisham Leikai on November 4, 2008 and 26-year old Ningthoujam Binoy s/o N Birmangol of Keirenphabi Mayai Leikai on November 13, 2006.Both the bereaved family members have lodged complaints with the Principal Secretary (Home), DGP and respective SPs concerned of their districts in protest against the killing.

In accordance to the FIRs registered by the police, both of them were killed in encounter though the bereaved family members have rejected the police claim and submitted separate memorandum to the Govt asserting that both Micheal and Binoy have been killed in fake encounter.

ubsequently, the bereaved family members also field writ petitions in the Gauhati High Court in this regard.

According to the bereaved family members, Micheal had been picked up by the police commandos from Wahengleikai area at around 3.30 pm of November 4, 2008.Soon after being picked up, Micheal had telephoned to his wife on his mobile phone.

However, after sometime, the phone remained switched off.

But the police claimed that Micheal was killed in a shoot out with the police commandos at Yenkoubung in Kameng village under Lamshang Police Station at around 4.30 pm of the same day.

Police also claimed that Micheal was a member of KCP-MC and demand letter of the proscribed outfit had been recovered from his possession.

On the other hand, in accordance to the writ petition filed by the family members of Ningthoujam Binoy, at around 4.30 pm of November 13, 2006, Binoy was coming along his family members in a Maruti Van from Sajiwa Central Jail where he had served one year term under NSA when the police commandos stopped the Van near Khurai Chairenthong and dragged out Binoy while forcing other occupants were made to lay prostrated on the ground.

Then the police commandos shot down Binoy at the very same spot.

However, police report of the incident maintained that the commandos were frisking vehicles along the road near the bridge on receipt of specific information on the movement of UG elements.

The occupants of a Maruti Van were being made to come out for frisking when Binoy tried to snatch weapons from the police commandos.

In the resulting scuffled, Binoy was hit by bullet and he succumbed to the injuries.

Talking to mediapersons at Uripok Cheirap Court complex here today in connection with the today�s High Court ruling, Advocate Khaidem Mani, who appeared on behalf of the petitioners, observed that many people in Manipur have been killed in fake encounters and it is high time for the people to come out jointly against such killings and ensure such incidents do not recur by ensuring justice and punishment of the killers.

He also called upon other family members of victims of alleged fake encounter to come out and lodged complaint fearlessly.

Khaidem Mani is also the chairman of the Legal Protection Centre set up with the main objective of providing legal assitance to the family members of fake encounter victims.

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