Imphal, November 05: Supporting the claim that Th Manorama was killed while in the custody of Assam Rifles, Advocate N Koteshore, who appeared on behalf of Th Dolendro, younger brother of Manorama, today said that the AR authority is "hiding some- thing" and suggested that an independent body like the CBI be roped in to dig out the facts.

Putting across his points before the Manorama Death Inquiry Commission during the final arguments of the case, the Advocate cited the opinion of two forensic experts who said that the about 500 ml of blood ought to have been found from the spot where Manorama was killed.

However since no such blood was detected at the spot where the body of Manorama was found, Koteshore argued that she was shot somewhere after severe torture and her body was later dumped at Laipharok Maring village.

The Advocate also pointed out that no spent cartridges were found at the spot.

Koteshore also flatly rejected the Assam Rifles version that she was killed while trying to flee and added that the security personnel also failed to specify where they claimed to have brought Manorama in the wee hours of July 11.The two officers in charge of the team, who are otherwise well trained in counter insurgency operations, failed to tackle the situation appropriately and instead gave their men the license to kill the hapless woman, he noted.

Irilbung police station is the nearest police station from the residence of Manorama, Koteshore said and questioned why the AR informed the matter to Imphal West police.

He also questioned why the AR team did not hand over Manorama to either of the two police stations after arrest.

The detection of the semen stain on the petticoat on Manorama proves beyond doubt that she was raped, said Koteshore and added that the different colours recorded by the police and the Forensic Lab at Kolkata cannot be interpreted along the line that the petticoat was changed, he argued.

The police had recorded the colour of the petticoat as red while the Forensic lab had noted the colour as reddish orange colour.

The experts �only specified the colour,� he argued.

The versions of the Assam Rifles that Manorama was shot dead because the AR men could not chase her as they were wearing heavy equipments such as bullet proof vests, head gears, guns and ammunition is ridiculous, said Koteshore.

"What is the use of wearing the battle fatigues, if the AR men cannot out run a fragile woman?" he countered.

It has also been proved beyond doubt that the seizure memo was served by the AR men after Manorama was taken away, said the Advocate and added that everything points to the fact that Manorama was killed in the custody of the Assam Rifles men.

In order to find out the true story, Koteshore drew the attention of the panel to recommend that an independent body like the CBI be roped in.

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