Imphal, February 01 2010: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended the State Government to pay Rs five lakhs as monetary relief to the next of kin of late RK Sanajaoba s/o RK Nabachandra of Sagolband.

According to a complaint forwarded by the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) to the NHRC on October 21, 2004, Sanajaoba was killed by personnel of Patsoi police station at Sagolband Khongnang Hogaibi at about 11.30 am of October 20, 2004 .

Even as the NHRC received the complaint, there was no report from the Government of Manipur, Citing a report which listed 111 cases as police encounter cases, the NHRC asked the State Chief Secretary as to why the reports are not being forwarded to it.

In this particular case, the police put up a theory that it was a case of accidental firing and the person sustained injuries as a consequence of which he died.

The deceased and one other person were returning home on their scooter which was stopped on the way by some unknown police personnel of Manipur Police headed by a lady police officer.

In the scuffle which took place one of the police men took out the weapon and shot him on his chest from point blank range as a result of which he died on the spot.

It was suggested that during the course of investigation it was revealed that Sanajaoba spoke some slang language as a result of which the escorts got down from the vehicle.

Sanajaoba hen forcibly snatched the fibre stick from the escort and started beating the police personnel.

Further, it was alleged that Sanajaoba tried to snatch a service pistol from one of the police personnel.

In the scuffle, some rounds were accidentally fired killing Sanajaoba on the spot.

The police registered a case and filed charge-sheet.

After analysing this police theory on January 20 this year, the NHRC found it hard to believe.

It observed that for some utterances no police will come down and enter into a scuffle with the persons moving on the road.

Citing post mortem report, it noted that the fatal injury was caused from a distant range.

"It is also hard to believe that three police personnel could not control one person which was without any weapons in his hands", the NHRC observed.

Noting that no reliance can be placed on such theory, the Commission concluded that it was a case of killing a person who was totally innocent.

In this case, a show-cause notice was issued to the State Government followed by a reminder and there was no response.

In its recommendation sent to the State Government on January 28, the NHRC directed the Chief Secretary to send proof of payment of the recommended amount of Rs 5 lakhs to Sanajaoba's family as well as compliance report by February 26 .

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