Imphal, August 04 2009: Gauhati High Court, Imphal bench has ordered to submit reply within three weeks time to the Union ministry of home affairs and state government on the killing of a student called Shantikumar by a combined team of Imphal west police commandos and troops of 16 Assam Rifles after he was apprehended by civil police on March 24 this year is alleged fake encounter.

Thoudam Shantikumar son of late Ibochou of Kakwa Lamdaibung studied in Standard XII was shot dead by the combined team in what they claimed encounter on March 24 this year.

However, family claimed that he was apprehended by a team of civil police before shooting to dead.

Mother of the deceased Shantikumar, Thoudam ongbi Memma filed a petition against the secretary of the Union ministry of home affairs, principal secretary of the state home department, SP, Imphal west, IG of Assam Rifles and commanding officer of 16 Assam Rifles in the court of the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench.

A division bench of the Imphal bench comprising justice T Nandakumar and justice Mutum Binoykumar during a hearing on July 23 last directed the respondents to submit reply to the allegation charged against them within three week time from the issued of the order.

Advocate M Devananda, counsel of the decease's mother Memma said today that on that faithful day Shantikumar went out from home to watch a Youth Festival held at Manipur University.

He was picked up by a team of police in civil dress from Kakwa Nameirakpam Leikai near a community hall at around 11.30 am of the day.

The youth picked by the police in civil dress was found killed at about 1.50 pm of March 24 at a place at Tairenpokpi under Lamshang police station by a combined force of Imphal west police commandos and troops of 16 Assam Rifles in fake encounter, he alleged quoting the petition filed by the mother of the victim.

Decrying the killing incident, locals had protested but none of the authorities concern heard the cry of the people.

In the petition, he said, Memma strongly alleging her son was killed in fake encounter prayed to the court to compensate Rs 20 lakh and punishment to the security personnel involved in the killing of her son.

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