Clear case of fake encounter, says BJP Parliamentary team
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 18 2009: A four-member Parliamentary team of BJP, led by its National spokesperson Prakash Javedkar arrived here today to take stock of the prevailing situation arising out of the July 23 BT Road incident in which two persons were killed.

Addressing a press conference at the party's State unit office later in the evening, after a whirlwind visit to the bereaved families and meetings with anti-AFSPA campaigner Irom Sharmila and Governor Gurbachan Jagat, Javedkar categorically stated, 'it is an open and shut case and we are very much sure that it was a fake encounter which has been proved beyond doubt".

Protesting the killing

Soon after their arrival at Imphal Tulihal airport, on an Indigo flight from Delhi, the BJP Parliamentary team, who came along with North East in-charge of the party, Chandrasekhar Rao went to Lamshang to visit the bereaved family members of Th Rabina, who was killed in the incident.

The Parliamentary team comprising, Prakash Javedkar, BJP spokesperson, Bijoya Chakravoti, who is also the National vice president; Raman Deka, who is also the State president of BJP Assam Pradesh and Rajen Gohain also met the representatives of the JAC formed in connection with the killing of Rabina.

During the brief meeting, the JAC reiterated its demand for resignation of Chief Minister, dismissal of the guilty police commandos and pressed to know the role that BJP would play in this regard.

Party's National spokesperson Prakash Javedkar assured that for the cause of justice, BJP would take up the issue at the National level.

From there, the Parliamentary team went to the Khurai Kongpal Sajor Leikai residence of Chungkham Sanjit, who was killed in the alleged fake encounter, and met the bereaved family members as well as members of the JAC.

Overwhelmed with emotion, mother of Sanjit broke down during the meeting and lone lady MP of the visiting team, Bijoya Chakravoti consoled her.

From the side of the JAC, a memorandum highlighting the demands of people was handed over to the visiting team.

The JAC also expressed its gratitude to the Parliamentary team for its concern and hoped that justice would prevail.

Speaking at the occasion, Prakash Javedkar observed that it is time for Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to listen to the public demand and to step down honourably.

Maintaining that allegations of nexus between MLAs, Ministers and UGs are becoming clearer, he also accused the police of trying to cover up the facts about the Khwairamband Bazar incident.

The team also came across people of the locality raising slogans against the SPF Govt and a protest march staged till Lamlong Bazar apart from sit-in-protest demonstrations staged all along the route they passed.

Later, the BJP leaders visited the Singjamei Oinam Leikai residence of convenor of Extra Judicial Execution Victims Families' Association L Sarat and collected the names and other details of the victims allegedly killed in fake encounters.

They also visited Khwairamband Bazar to inspect the site where the alleged fake encounter took place.

During the visit, the Parliamentary team had also given Rs 5000 each to the bereaved families of Rabina and Sanjit.

Addressing the press conference, Javedkar said that taking into account of the documentary evidences and eyewitnesses' accounts , it is beyond doubt that July 23 Khwairamband bazaar shoot out was fake.

'It is an open and shut case and we are very much sure that it was a fake encounter which proved beyond doubt", he said, adding that this being the case, the judicial inquiry ordered by the Ibobi Singh Government has become redundant.

'Hence the suspended commandos should be booked under 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for committing cold blooded murder of Chungkham Sanjit and Rabina Devi and injuring five others," he demanded.

He assured that the reports collected from the victims' families in addition to the comments given by various NGOs and party's own assessment on the issue would be submitted to the Union Home Minister and later to the Prime Minister to do justice.

Coming down heavily on Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Javedkar contended that "he ( CM) is guilty of four aspects- perjury (lying under oath) in the assembly on the July 23 incidents, using and patronizing some militant outfits only for his political advantages, conspiring the police department in terms of appointment , transfer and postings and guilty of not honoring the state human rights commission'.

The State unit's party long demand of imposing President's Rule in Manipur in view of failure of the State Government in all fronts stands authenticated, he added.

BJP's National spokesperson further said that BJP fully supports the Apunba Lup's key demand of resignation of Ibobi Singh on moral ground.

Some of police have also become extortionists, he alleged.

Stating that Sanjit was a surrendered militant, the BJP leader said 'Killing of such person who was leading a normal life is not good strategy to end militancy".

Responding to a query, he said curfew being clamped in the twin capital districts has killed not just the business but also the people.

In connection with the meeting of the visiting Parliamentary team and the Governor, Javedkar said 'During our meeting with Governor Gurbachand Jagat, we discussed about the lack of security along the long porous Indo-Myanmar border culminating in smuggling of arms and ammunition and methods for checking it".

State unit BJP president H Borobabu, former CM W Nipamacha , former legislature Meinam Bhorot and former Speaker S Dhananjoy who accompanied the visting BJP MPs during their whirl wind visits were also present during the press conference.