Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 10, 2009:
State government has asked the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) to discontinue the inquiry into the July 23 Khwairamband Bazar shooting incident.
The commission has received an instruction from the state home department.
Despite the intimation, rights commission has decided to continue the proceeding, said member of the right commission, RK Rajendra today.
An intimation signed by Under Secretary (Home), Priyadharshini Laishram on August 26 address the secretary of the right commission, Y Rameshchandra who is also the Deputy Secretary of Law Department asked to discontinue the inquiry stating that as state government has already instituted judicial inquiry into the incident, another parallel inquiry into the same incident is not needed and the commission not to continue its inquiry proceeding further.
With regard to the intimation of the home department, member of the rights commission, RK Rajendra speaking to media persons today said that even though government asked to stop, the inquiry will continue.
The commission will also seek advice from the National Human Rights Commission or fight a case to Supreme Court.
Revealing that even though the intimation of the home department was date back to August 26, the commission received only yesterday after 15 days gap, Rajendra expressed doubt of issuing the intimation by backing the date.
He further expressed dissatisfaction over the received of the intimation of August 26 handed over only yesterday afternoon to the commission office.
Rajendra talking further to the reporters said that as the section 36(1) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, a right commission could not conduct another inquiry into the same incident which state government has started conducting.
But for the July 23 incident, rights commission had initiated the inquiry before the state government ordered probe into the incident.
The matter is amount to "insult" the commission.
It hurt the prestige of the commission.
The commission has no other option but to continue the proceeding of the inquiry.
The ongoing inquiry of the right commission has not based on term of reference but it only aimed that to find out the circumstances leading to shooting incident and for directing the government to compensate the victims of the incident while the judicial inquiry ordered by the government is based on term and reference.
Apart from this the inquiry is yet to start.
He also observed that apart from the judicial inquiry of the government, the inquiry of the commission can be continued.
As per the act that govern, commission can issued summon and if submit make-up report to the commission, those responsible can be sentenced for imprisonment.
He further said that the commission was about to take up a suo-motto case with regard to the incident but he could not support get support from the two other members.