Inquiry into July 23, 2009 shooting incident closed
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 29 2011: The one-man Commission of Inquiry into the facts and circumstances leading to the July 23, 2009 shooting incident at Khwairamband bazar came to a close Tuesday.

The presiding officer, Judge (retired), PG Agarwal, reserved the report for onward submission to the government.

The inquiry commission was constituted by an order of the Home Department issued on August 27, 2009, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 (60 of 1952) by appointing a One-Man Commission of Inquiry to be presided over by Justice Retd PG Agarwal (of the Gauhati High Court) to enquire into the circumstances leading to the firing incident on July 23 at/around BT Road at Imphal.

As per the order the terms of reference of the Commission were to find out facts & circumstances leading to the incident of firing and the death of Thokchom (O) Rabina Devi (23) of Lamsang bazar, Lamdeng Khunou and Chungkham Sanjit (22) of Khurai Sajor Leikai and bullet injury to five others.

No help from the people could be got during the inquiry, said the presiding officer while announcing the closure of the inquiry after a hearing today at its temporary office at Imphal Hotel at North AOC.

On the last day of the hearing, Counsel of the Manipur Police and Counsel of the Commission, Advocate N Kumarjit and Th Modhu respectively submitted their written arguments.

Justice Agarwal kept reserved the arguments asking the Counsel of the police commandos involved in the case to submit his written argument within a week's time.

While submitting his argument, Commission's Counsel Th Modhu said that the Commission could not get support and help from the general public during the course of inquiry.

As public witnesses refused to give their statements to the Commission, the fact of the incident could not be established, he added.

However, he added that the Commission came to know that Th Rabina Devi was killed by bullets of the police commandos as the bullet that hit her was an AK bullet.

Injuries that were inflicted to the five other persons were also by AK ammunition.

About the death of Ch Sanjit, he said, even though police claimed him being killed in an encounter, as per the photographs published in Tehelka magazine, it was an untrue claim.

He could not get the chance of cross examination of the police personnel involved in the case as they submitted their statements in the form of affidavits, the Counsel of the Commission said.

In his argument, N Kumarjit, Counsel of the police, said that there was no evidence to prove that police had acted above the law in the shooting incident during the inquiry.

Ch Sanjit was killed in cross firing with the police commandos, he insisted.

He also informed that CBI had charge-sheeted the police in this regard and the trial hearing had already started.

Comment