CHRI: Manipur killing is 'obstruction of justice'
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal
New Delhi, January 30 2016 :
Viewing with deep concern the confession of Manipur Police Head Constable Herojit Singh that he shot and killed Sanjit Meitei on the alleged instructions of a senior police officer, the Common Wealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Delhi has urged the CBI to probe and identify the senior police officers and politicians who gave the orders to kill Sanjit.
Any police-politician nexus must be unearthed and exposed by credible objective investigation, CHRI demanded in a statement.
The shooting itself dates back to July 2009 and is being investigated by the CBI in which Herojit is one of nine accused policemen.
Herojit admits to pumping six bullets into Sanjit and that he was unarmed at the time and the officer who allegedly issued the order was identified as the then Additional SP, Imphal West, Akoijam Jhalajit, CHRI said.
This allegation makes out a case of premeditated murder.
It contradicts and compromises the Manipur Police's core claims of 'encounter' made on oath to the Court and to the CBI.
It directly implicates senior police officers and the political leadership.
This must now be investigated as must the possibility of obstruction of justice by the police establishment and its lawyers, it demanded.
Demanding the fullest action under the authority of the law, CHRI's Chair, Wajahat Habibullah pressed, "If true, this amounts to gross abuse of responsibility by the authority assigned the task of enforcing the law.
It is imperative that the CBI immediately investigate the senior police officers and any higher authority be they, bureaucrat or politician, who allegedly gave orders for this killing.
The State must fully prosecute those who give such orders as a linked offence alongside those who pull the trigger" .
The CBI must ensure Herojit's (and all witnesses) safety for the duration of the investigation and trial, it further demanded.
It also urged the Manipur State Human Rights Commission to initiate its own inquiry.
It further urged that the State and Central Governments strongly and publicly condemn the action exposed by this revelation and reaffirm their unflinching commitment in support of the law.