Govt asked to compensate wrongfully detained man
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 04 2023: The Manipur High Court has directed the state authority to give Rs 50 lakh in compensation to a man, who was wrongfully detained for around 11 months.

Manipur High Court acting Chief Justice Muralidaran and Justice A Guneshwar issued the directive on February 28 consequent to hearing of a petition filed by one Kaikom Kipgen of Loibol village, Kangpokpi district, mentioning the Manipur Government (represented by the chief secretary), special secretary (Home), deputy secretary (PIT-ND&PS), Ministry of Finance and Department of Revenue as respondents.

According to the petition filed by Kaikom, on April 20, 2022 a team of Bishnupur district police commando arrested one Nongthombam Premjit (45) s/o (L) Biren of Terakhongsangbi Wahengbam Leikai, but was residing at Tingkai Khullen, Kangpokpi and Satminlen Kipgen (24) s/o Kaikom Kipgen of Loibol village, Kangpokpi, from Keinou Bazar.

The team allegedly seized around 4.8 kg of opium from Premjit and 255gm of opium from Satminlen Kipgen.

As per an order issued by the special secretary (Home) on September 2, 2022, Sat minlen Kipgen was detained for 3 months under Section 3 (1) of Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 on suspicion that he (Satminlen) could continue smuggling drugs.

After the issuance of the detention order, a case filed at Special Judge (ND&PS) Bishnupur mentioned that if Satminlen were to be granted bail, he would most likely continue to smuggle drugs.

In the present case as well, the state authority has used excessive power to illegally detain Satminlen from December 2 to 15, 2022 without the approval of the authority concerned.

The Court expressed its sympathy to the detainee for the sufferings and directed the state authority to give Rs 50 lakh as compensation within a month.

If the state authority fails to give the compensation within a month from the date of receiving the order, a 6 percent interest from the day of the issuance of the order is to be counted into the compensation and given to the detainee.

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