Imphal, August 24 2009: Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench has directed the District and Sessions Judge, Manipur East to conduct an inquiry into the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Irungbam Somananda Meetei� allegedly killed by personnel of 12th Assam Rifles in 2004 .

An order to this effect was issued today after a petition filed by the wife of deceased, Khundrakpam Ningol Irungbam Ongbi Mema was placed before Justice Mutum Binoykumar, a statement issued by the Director of Human Rights Law Network, Meihoubam Rakesh conveyed.

The High Court has also ordered to submit the inquiry report within six months.

The writ petition is being filed at the initiative of Human Rights Law Network (Manipur).

In her petition, the Petitioner contended that her husband was taken into custody by personnel of 12th Assam Rifles at midnight on February 29, 2004 after breaking the door of their house located at Pungdongbam Awang Leikai Lai Manak in Imphal East district.

The efforts of his family members and the locals to obtain arrest memo had failed.

The Petitioner said a written report was lodged with the OC of Lamlai Police station on March 2, 2004.The OC then registered a FIR case based on the information provided in the written report.

On March 2, 2004, the Petitioner came to know that the dead body of her husband was found lying at the mortuary of RIMS.

On the other hand, the AR authority claimed that the deceased was killed in an encounter which took place on March 2 at 4.15 am at Tinsid Road Sanjenbam village.

The AR had also claimed to have recovered arm and ammunitions from the deceased.

Hearing the submission of both parties' representatives, the Gauhati High Court, Imphal bench has directed the District and Sessions Judge, Manipur East to hold an inquiry into the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Irungbam Somananda, the HRLN statement conveyed.

Further, the Court has also directed the parties in the Court of District and Sessions Judge, Manipur East on September 11, 2009 for initiation of the inquiry. The respondents listed in the petition are the Union of India, represented by the Defence Secretary, Ministry of Defence, the Home Secretary, Ministry of Union Home Affairs, the GOC, 57 Mountain Division, the CO of 12th AR, the State of Manipur represented by the Principal Secretary (Home), the DGP, and the SP of Imphal East district.

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