Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 09, 2009:
Announcing boycott of the one-man Inquiry Commission instituted by the State Government into the July 23 Khwairamband Bazar incident, the Joint Action Committee Against the Killing of Ch Sanjit has contented that it is nothing but a ploy to mislead the people and quell the ongoing public agitation by the Chief Minister and the DGP.
In a statement issued by its co-convenor, the JAC demanded annulment of the inquiry at once and appealed to the people not to extend their support.
Inquiries conducted by the State Government in the past have also come to naught, the JAC pointed out.
Coming out strongly against the remarks reportedly made by DGP challenging the photographic evidences of the July 23 incident provided by Tehelka, the JAC asserted that irresponsible remarks has also shown how the Chief Minister and DGP view the inquiry headed by retired Justice PG Agarwal.
The DGP should understand that the July 23 incident of police firing at the crowded Khwairamband Bazar had taken place in full public view and media glare and it was the answer to all the earlier fake encounter incidents stage-managed by the security personnel, the JAC said.
Instead of trying to antagonise with the people who have been infuriated over the incident with such irresponsible remarks from the head of the Police Department, it would be also be wiser on the part of the Chief Minister and the DGP to realise that the number of security forces in Manipur is just around 2 lakh while there are over 25 lakh people in the State, the JAC added.
The JAC also held the DGP squarely responsible for the July 23 incident and the misleading statement on the incident read out by the Chief Minister on the floor of the Assembly.