Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 05:
The State Government has ordered a Magisterial Inquiry into the killing of Koijam Meghachandra Meitei and assured payment of ex-gratia after perusing through details submitted by the probe panel.
This assurance was given by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh during talks with representatives of Joint Action Committee Against the Killing of Koijam Meghachandra Singh who met the CM to submit a memorandum alleging Meghachandra was killed in a fake encounter by personnel of 17 Assam Rifles yesterday.
The inquiry panel has been asked to submit its finding within a month.
Following the assurance, family members and relatives took back the body from RIMS morgue late evening today.
Alleging that Meghachandra Meitei, recovered dead from New Keithelmanbi yesterday, was actually slain by 17 Assam Rifles personnel after arrest, a JAC was formed and the memorandum submitted to demand punitive action against guilty personnel.
Meghachandra's body was recovered from New Keithelmanbi within Sapermeina police station of Senapati district yesterday.
Meghachandra s/o K Shamu of Leimapokpam Khunpham Makha Leikai was a former member of the proscribed PREPAK and is survived by his wife a daughter.
According to reports filed at the Sapermeina police station, Meghachandra was killed in an encounter with the 17 AR personnel.
Protesting the alleged fake encounter, family members refused to take back the body from the morgue.
In its representation to the Chief Minister the JAC informed that the body will not be taken back unless a judicial probe is ordered to ascertain facts behind the killing and punitive action initiated against the guilty security personnel.
The JAC members along with friends and relatives of Meghachandra proceeded towards the CM's bungalow today to submit the memorandum but only some representatives were allowed to meet the CM with the rest halted at the north of General Post Office.
As per the content of the memorandum Meghachandra severed links with the underground organization about eight years back some eight years back and has been leaving a normal life since then.
At around 4 am yesterday the AR personnel in three vehicles arrived at the deceased's residence and after summoning him out the security men severely beat up and hauled Meghachandra to the vehicle, maintained the representation.