Imphal, March 25 2009: In a significant verdict, the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench has directed the Union of India and Assam Rifles authorities to pay Rs 4 lakhs as compensation for the killing of Khundrakpam Tejkumar @ Gandharva Singh son of Khundrakpam Shanti Singh of Uripok Laikhurembi Leikai, Imphal West district after arresting him from his locality on March 9, 2004. The verdict was pronounced today after the final hearing of the case by a division bench of the High Court comprising Justice Tayenjam Nandakumar Singh and Justice Mutum Binoykumar Singh, a release of the Human Rights Law Network signed by its Director, Meihoubam Rakesh said.

The late Khundrakpam Tejkumar Singh @ Gandharva (22), a student of TDC 1st year in DM College of Commerce was arrested on March 9, 2004, the third day of the Yaosang sports from his locality by the personnel of 19 Assam Rifles stationed at Yaingangpokpi post and he was allegedly killed after torturing him in their custody, it mentioned.

On the other hand, the Assam Rifles contended that the late Khundrakpam Tejkumar Singh @ Gandharva was killed in an encounter with the personnel of 19 Assam Rifles and that the individual was apprehended pursuant to a confirmed report and intercepts and consequent snatch operations, having been identified as a cadre of 'PREPAK' by a highly reliable source.

He was arrested from a market place by a small team.

The individual led the AR party to many places including Singjamei, Kakwa, Thangmeiband etc and then finally to NG Mani College near Charairenthong at around 5.30pm.Thereafter he had dug out a weapon in a gunny bag and put his hand inside the gunny bag and fired the weapon through it.

Then he tried to run away taking advantage of the approaching darkness.

He was in the circumstances having no alternative shot while trying to escape in self defence of parties, the statement of the HRLN said.

The press statement further said that the Additional District Judge, Manipur West, Kh Gomati Devi had concluded in her report as directed by the Gauhati High Court to conduct an enquiry over the killing - that Khundrakpam Tejkumar @ Gandharva Singh was brutally tortured and killed in the custody of 19 Assam Rifles, the press release said.

While passing the order, the Gauhati High Court has directed the Respondents, Union of India and Assam Rifles authority to pay the compensation of Rs 4 lakhs within four months to the Petitioner, Khundrakpam Ongbi Binashakhi Devi, the mother of the deceased and also to pay a sum of Rs 5000 to Meihoubam Rakesh, Counsel for the Petitioner within four months, it said.

The Court said while making it clear that the compensation amount is in addition to the other remedies available to the Petitioner in the ordinary course of law by way of damage in civil suit and other remedies in criminal proceedings against the wrong doers, it said.

The Writ Petition was filed at the initiative of the Human Rights Law Network, Manipur.

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