Manorama case lands in Supreme Court
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 11 2011: Challenging the recent Gauhati High Court's ruling that allowed the State Government to open and act upon the probe report on the facts and circumstances leading to the brutal killing of Thangjam Manorama Devi by Assam Rifles personnel in 2004, the defence authorities have filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court.

In August last year, a division bench of the Gauhati High Court allowed the State Government to open and act upon an inquiry report on the facts and circumstances leading to Manorama's killing.

The report, which is still being kept under sealed cover, was prepared by retired district judge C Upendra Singh.

Since the Government respondents failed to comply with the order, the bereaved family had in January this year filed a writ petition before the Gaughti High Court for opening the inquiry report and for initiating a fresh probe by the CBI for punishing the guilty Assam Rifles soldiers.

Though the matter was listed for hearing today, it had to be deferred as the Central Government (Union Defence and Home Affairs Secretaries) and Commandant of 17 Assam Rifles have already filed the SLP challenging the division bench ruling.

"I was all prepared to contest the case at the Gauhati High Court Imphal bench today but it has to be placed after disposal of the SLP as instructed by the Court ," Advocate Meihoubam Rakesh, appearing on behalf of deceased Manorama's mother and younger brother, informed on today afternoon.

Following the Central Government's SLP, the Supreme Court recently issued notices to the respondents among others including the State Government and the deceased family, he said.

Rakesh , who is also the Director of Manipur unit Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), said the network would contest the Supreme Court case after consulting with its key functionaries working in New Delhi.

He said the matter has also been conveyed immediately to the deceased family for doing the needful.

In the wee hours of July 11, 2004 the bullet riddled body of Manorama, then 32, was found at Laipharok Maring village in Imphal east.

17 Assam Rifles troops picked her up from her residence at Bamon Kampu Mayai Leikai village in the same district after issuing arrest memo the previous night.

Following the discovery of her ravaged and bullet riddled body, Manipur witnessed large scale protest against the incident and a collective demand rose to scrap the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

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