Imphal, June 01 2009: Bereaved family of Loitongbam Satish alias Tomba of Singjamei Oinam Thingel have decided to file two separate petitions seeking justice in the High Court.

Police claim that Satish was killed during an encounter with a combined force of Thoubal Police Commandos and personnel of 23 Assam Rifles on May 18 last.

However, the family members asserted that he was picked up and later killed in a fake encounter.

Talking to mediapersons at Manipur Press Club here this evening, father of Satish, Loitongbam Sarat, who is one of the first elected members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly informed that the first petition would seek the assistance and intervention of the Court in finding out the truth behind the killing and the second petition concerning the condition and the manner in which the body of his son was found would be in the form of a Public Interest Litigation.

Sarat explained that the body of his son had not been claimed as it was found in a condition as if it had been lying dead for a long time.

Demanding to know why the body had been disposed off as unclaimed body even after he himself had identified it as his son, Sarat contended the manner of disposing off the body smacks of a conspiracy to destroy all physical evidences.

This is nothing but State-sponsored terrorism, the heartbroken father said, adding that he would not bargain for anything like ex-gratia or other benefits with the Government, but would continue to exert pressure on Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to stop killing innocent people after being arrested and later dubbed them as underground activists who have been killed during encounter.

When personnel of State forces have been punished for stealing some iron rods, why should the personnel involved killing innocent people after being picked up be shielded ?, he questioned.

Ksh Ibemu Devi, who is the Co-convenor of the Committee set in connection with killing of Satish lamented that even after launching various intense agitations, the Government has not given any positive response to the demands of the Committee.

So the Committee would continue to exert pressure on the Government.

She also seek the support and co-operation of the people in this regard.

On further course of action to be taken up by the Committee, its convenor Oinam Nandakishore informed that representation would be submitted to the Governor of Manipur and Union Home Minister and until the receipt of response picketing of Government offices and vehicles would be resorted.

The Committee may also be compelled to take recourse to calling bandh and general strike, he added.

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