Call off bandh, urges IW SP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 01 2019: Imphal West SP, K Meghachandra has appealed to the people of the State to stay away and refrain from supporting the 48 hours bandh called by the JAC formed in connection with the death of Ningthoujam Babysana from 6 am tomorrow, and instead to carry on with their normal activities, explaining that imposing bandh is against the Supreme Court judgment and is unconstitutional.

He further alleged that the bandh has been called in the vested interest of a few individuals of the JAC.

This was stated during a media briefing at SP Imphal West conference hall today evening.

Speaking to media persons, the SP said that the investigation into the case has been progressing well and the investigating team has already examined and recorded the statement of more than 40 witnesses.

5 persons, including the Principal of Standard Robarth Higher Secondary School, were arrested and they are currently in judicial custody, he said adding that out of 32 students residing in the hostel where Babysana was found dead, 31 have started attending regular classes.

He continued that regarding the investigation of the case, the investigating team met members of the JAC more than 5 times on different levels (including the level of Chief Minister) and the team even shared information of some leads which came up during the investigation.

The police thoroughly narrated the cause of incident but the JAC members seem to have some difference in opinion as some members of the JAC with vested interest are trying to suppress the voice of the other members, by spreading wrong propaganda and to instigate the public to join the protest creating disturbance, the SP claimed, adding that the police have also identified those JAC member who are spreading wrong propaganda through social media.

The investigating team will not entertain the preconceived ideas of some individuals of the JAC with vested interest, and instead the investigation of the case will be conducted through all proper channels, he said.

On the other hand, the SP clarified that N Tomchou, father of Babysana, had failed to give any statement in connection with the case even though Tomchou claimed through the media that he had given his statement three to four times to the investigating team.

K Meghachandra further clarified Tomchou never came alone and he was always accompanied by some members of the JAC.

After a regular FIR was registered, not a single statement of Tomchou has been recorded by police, he explained.

The SP then clarified that investigating team did not decline to give the post mortem report of Babysana as alleged by Tomchou and explained that on August 16, Tomchou asked police to provide the post mortem report.

He informed that the post mortem is the Court's property and as such it can be acquired from the Court only and asked those concerned to approach the Court through the proper channel to get a copy of the post mortem report.

The SP said that investigating team also thoroughly discussed about the progress of the investigation with the CSOs and student organizations of the State from time to time and appealed the JAC to repeal its 48 hours bandh.

He further appealed the JAC to cooperate in the investigation taken up by police for speedy trial and informed that CrPC 144 has been imposed in Imphal from the past few months back.

The SP then appealed the public to stay away from the bandh as imposing bandh is unconstitutional and explained that disturbing normal life, disturbing and paralysing educational institutions and commercial activities, leads to great loss for the State.

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