Imphal, June 01 2010: A division bench of the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench today passed an order directing state DGP, SP of Imphal east district and officer-in charge of the Lamlai police station to appear in person before the court on Friday next in connection with the shooting to injure of Advocate General Nongmeikapam Koteshwor on March 6 last on his way back from a tour with a minister.

Mention may be made that the Advocate General who was traveling with state works minister, K Ranjit and tribal development minister, DD Thaisii in a car belonging to one of the ministers accidentally fired out a shot from a license gun on the way back from attending a function in Ukhrul district at Nongada under Lamlai police station on March 6 evening.

During a hearing to a writ petition filed in the court of Gauhati High Court, Imphal bench, a division bench comprising Justice T Nandakumar and Justice Mutum Binoykumar directed the Director General of Police (DGP), the Superintendent of Police, Imphal East District and Officer-in-Charge of Lamlai Police Station to appear in the court on Friday (June 4) .

The order of the court was passed as counsels of the respondents of the case appearing in the court today failed to give reason behind the non-furnishing of information with regard to the arrest of the accused person(s) of the FIR no.36(3)/2010 of Lamlai PS registered under section 326 IPC and 25 (1-C)A Act, related with the shooting to injure of the Advocate General.

The court in one of its order passed on May 5 last had directed counsel of the respondents to obtain information regarding the arrest of the accused and give reason if not arrested the accused on or before May 17 last.

However, counsels of the respondents could not furnish the information or the reason behind the non-arrest of the accused.

"In this circumstances, this Court has no alternative but to direct the respondents 3 to 5 ( i.e.the Director General Police, Government of Manipur, the Superintendent of Police, Imphal East District, Manipur and the Officer-in-Charge, Lamlai Police Station) to appear in person before this Court at 10.30 am on Friday (June 4)," the order stated.

The court also asked the registry of the court to furnish a copy of the order to the Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur by sending a special messenger within 48 hours.

The writ petition was filed by a group of law students.

The Joint Monitoring Cell of the High Court Bar Association and All Manipur Bar Association has appreciated the petitioners for their effort to deliver justice in the case which shocked the lawyer community.

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