Imphal, February 23, 2010: Giving their statements before the Justice Agarwal Inquiry Commission which is probing into the controversial Khwairamband Bazar firing of July 23, 2009, two doctors of Forensic Sciences Department, RIMS who conducted post mortem examination on the bodies of Chungkham Sanjit and Thokchom Rabina Devi have stated that the gun shot which killed Sanjit was fired from a distance beyond 2 to 3 feet while Rabina was hit by rifle bullets.

Sanjit and Rabina were killed in the incident while five others sustained bullet injuries.

In the hearing of the Commission which was held at Hotel Imphal here today, the statement of Dr Supriya Keisham who conducted post-mortem on the body of Chungkham Sanjit was recorded.

In her statement, Dr Supriya pointed out that there were four lacerated wounds on the body.

Out of these four wounds, she felt that two were caused due to grazing by the bullets whereas the other two have been caused due to fall on hard surface or striking against some hard substance.

She also pointed out that there was no blackening, charring or tattooing of the entry wounds which shows that the shots were fired from a distance beyond 2/3 feet.

The exact distance, however, cannot be said as it depends upon the nature of the firearms.

The projectiles found in the body of the deceased were recovered and later handed over to the IO concerned.

Apart from Dr Supriya, Associate Professor of Forensic Sciences, RIMS Dr Th Bijoy who conducted post mortem examination on the body of Rabina also gave his statement to the Commission today.

In his statement, Dr Bijoy said that he is of the opinion that the death of Rabina was due to laceration of brain resulting from Rifle firearm injury to the head which was fired upon from a distant range.

The range of fire is more than 2 to 3 feet away from the victim and she was in erect position at the time of receiving the wound.

In today's hearing, seven commando personnel including SI Punshiba appeared before the commission which directed them to file their respective affidavits within March 16 for recording their statements in the next hearing.

The next hearing of the Commission would be on March 17. In this regard, the Commission has issued summon orders against the doctors of RIMS who treated the five injured persons for giving their statements.

Moreover, the Commission has directed the Additional SP of Imphal West, Commando OC Krishnatombi and Commando Bazar Unit Inspector Debendra to submit a report on the police personnel who were on duty at Khwairamband Bazar on the day of the incident.

As the editor-in-chief of Tehelka has reportedly send the photographs published in the news magazine through speed post, the Commission decided that as and when the copies of the photographs are received the same would be forwarded to Central Forensic Science as well as at the Forensic Science Centre at Pangei for verification.

Lastly, the Commission has recommended issuing of summon notices to Golmei Mangal, who sustained injuries in the incident, to appear for recording his statement in its next hearing.

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