Police not cooperating: MHRC
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 24 2009: The superintendent of police, Imphal West district and officer in-charge of the commando unit of the district failed to turn up to the office of the Manipur Human Rights Commission for giving statement on the first day of the hearing on the enquiry conducted on the July 23 shooting incident on Monday.

Taking serious note on the non-compliance of the police officers, the commission strongly charged the state police department of 'willfully' trying to delay the independent enquiry by not extending co-operation to the commission.

Torch rally at Kakching on Saturday night

The commission asked the police department to submit the reports sought by the commission like the captured/recovered weapon from the UGs killed on Jluy 23 at Khwairamband Bazar, finger print of the UG who was holding the weapon, to bring the gun with proper care not to erase the finger print, detail report of the gun captured along with a certificate that the gun was never produced to any inquiry of such nature in the past and will not produced again in another inquiry in future.

List of weapons captured and kept in the custody of the police along with gun history sheet will be inspected on August 27 for verification of the captured weapons on July 23 last, bullets recovered from the injured and killed persons and a letter/note acknowledging that no un-removed bullet from the injured persons that is P Lukhoi and Gitarani will be taken by the police IO before showing it to the injured persons and member of the MHRC holding the spot inquiry.

On earlier occasion, the state DGP had also failed to submit a detail report of the incident sought by the commission asked to submit on or before August 17 last, the commission took seriously and if he refuses to corporate further, the commission will seek advice from the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi, commission member RK Rajendra said today.

"It amounts to intentional attempt to delay the progress and credibility of the inquiry by this commission.

It may be taken as an attempt to conceal the criminal acts committed by any party and its violation of protection of human rights act 1993," the member conducting the enquiry said.

The right member is conducting the enquiry into the July 23 shooting incident at Khwairamband Bazar following a complaint lodged by the husband of the victim Late Rabina Devi to the Commission.

With regard to the appearance of the Imphal West SP and OC of the commando unit, the commission served notice on Saturday last with a copy of the same to the DGP to ensure the appearance of the two officers on the hearing day.

But without giving any information, they failed to turn up to give statements on the incident, he said.

The commission has taken statements of at least 31 people including injured people in the incident, families of the two victim persons and shopkeepers and other nearby the incident site, the member said adding that only the statements of the police are left for completion of the inquiry which the report is to be submitted to the MHRC on September 3 .

He also expressed disappointment over the non-furnishing of the reports sought by the commission from the police even though the time given by the commission expired today.

The commission has asked the police to submit the reports of post mortem on the bodies of two victims, inquest report, videography of the post mortem, chemical analysis/forensic test report on or before today (August 24) .

Mention may be made that, the inquiry panel has submitted an interim report of the enquiry into the July 23 shooting incident that killed two people and injured five others to the officiating chairperson of the Commission on August 20 last.

The commission is conducting the enquiry on receipt of a complaint from the husband of deceased Thokchom Rabina, Chinglensana.

In the three page enquiry report, it was stated that even though the commission issued notice to the DGP to submit police report on the incident on or before August 17, the same is yet to be received from the DGP office.

"It is dishonour of the notice of the commission." It amount to intentional attempt to delay the progress and credibility of the inquiry by the commission," RK Rajendra stated in the report observing that it may be taken as an attempt to conceal the criminal acts committed by any party and is violation of protection of human rights act 1993 .

He also requested the commission to send a reminder to the DGP forwarding the same copy to the state Chief Secretary for positive action.

In his forwarding to the report, RK Rajendra while observing that the non-co-operation amounts to intentional delay which may cause loss of evidence and timely action of the case, the commission may take up legal action under the provision of section 13 of the protection of human rights Act 1993 and any other relevant rules of law.

However, it added, for the time being considering the urgency of the present burning issue, finding the facts for recommendation by the commission at the earliest for the welfare of the people and protection of human rights is of utmost importance, the member observed and reiterated the commission to issue notice to DGP once again.