Inquiry report of July 23, 2009 shooting submitted
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 17 2011: The One-man Commission of Inquiry chaired by Justice (Retired) PG Agarwal today submitted its inquiry report on the infamous July 23, 2009 shooting incident at BT road that killed a pregnant housewife and a former militant and also injured five others.

Justice (Retired) PG Agarwal, submitted the 80 page inquiry report to the Additional Secretary (Home), M Yaiskul Meetei in a simple function held at Hotel Imphal, North AOC.

After submitting the report, Agarwal said that the commission took one and a half years to inquire into the shooting incident involving police commandos because of delays in getting the forensic reports of exhibits which were sent for comments.

The actual period consumed by the commission to inquire into the matter was nine month as the commission had lost six months in waiting forensic test reports for the exhibits of the case, he said.

About the report, he said that the 80 page report consisted statements of 21 witnesses recorded during the inquiry, PG Agarwal added.

However, he refused to disclose the findings and recommendations made in the report.

The inquiry commission, mention may be made, 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) .

Government was compelled to conduct the judicial inquiry to bring an end to the unabated year long protest which was witnessed after the New Delhi based Tahelka magazine exposed the shooting incident as a "fake encounter" with sequences of photographs of Sanjit being escorted by police commandos before shooting him dead inside a shop at BT road.

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

The commission could not get help from the people during the inquiry as the separate JACs formed in connection with the killing of Sanjit and Rabina with the support of various influential civil organisations boycotted the commission.

However, on the last day of the hearing of the commission, the commission came to the conclusion 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 caused by AK ammunition.

The commission, during its course of inquiry, sought a copy of the charge sheet, documents and photographs seized by the CBI during the course of investigation into the case to the commission.

The CBI have also been investigating into the same July 23 incident and they have charge sheeted nine Manipur police commandos.

Trial hearing into the case is going on in the court.

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