Locals debunk police claim, stage sit-in
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 04, 2012: Locals of Kongba staged a sit-in protest at Kongba Bazar today against the alleged killing of Sagolsem Jiten by police in a claimed encounter.

The sit-in was held under the aegis of a JAC formed in connection with the alleged custodial killing of S Jiten.

Apart from staging the sit-in today, the JAC has lined up various kind of protests including blockading of Kongba-Yairipok Road beginning from February 5. It may be mentioned that S Jiten (31) son of S Manglemjao of Kongba Nongthombam Leikai was killed in a reported encounter with a combined team of Imphal East and Imphal West police commandos at Yaralpat in the night of January 26.Police claimed to have found one pistol and a hand grenade from his possession.

Denouncing the killing, the protesters today asserted that Jiten was innocent and did not have any connection whatsoever with banned outfits.

Protestors also demanded befitting action against the erring police personnel involved in the killing of Jiten.

The protestors displayed placards reading, 'don't play with innocent lives,' 'we are innocents,' 'punish the guilty according to law,' etc.

Convenor of the JAC, Ayekpam Memcha asserted that Jiten was a daily bread earner, and never had any connection with outlawed outfits.

Debunking the claim of the police that Jiten was a member of CorCom, Memcha also clarified that the allegation was baseless.

She further refuted the claim that a pistol and a bomb were found on him by the police.

Family source said that Jiten was out for a walk within the locality in the evening of January 26.He went to get charcoal from one Moirangthem Nanao at Kongba Bazar.

His cycle and a bag of charcoal was found at a house in the locality.

As he remained traceless, Jiten father had filed a missing report at Porompat Police Station on January 28.As per information provided by the police, family members found the dead body of Jiten lying at JNIMS Mortuary on January 30. Police said Jiten was a member of CorCom, which the later disowned.

This fact itself says that he was not a member of any banned outfit, family said.

Further, family source said that Jiten was an illiterate who could hardly write even his name.

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