Imphal, November 21: In a significant verdict, the Gauhati High Court has issued rule to the Army authorities on alleged extra-judicial killings of two innocent youths by the Central security forces at Yairipok in January this year.

Justice NH Sharma, in his Imphal Bench sitting, issued the rule on November 16 following two separate writ petitions filed by the parents of the deceased youths identified as Sanasam Ngongo (12) of Nongbrang Makha Leikai under Yairipok Police Station and his brother-in-law Saikhom Shamungou of the same village.

The writs said that on January 10 this year, at around 9 am, Ngongo and his brother-in-law Shamungou moved towards Wakchinglok and Bungbal Khullen to search for their missing buffalos.

When the duo did not turn up till the late hours, the petitioners along with the villagers made an abortive search till late in the evening of the day.

On being contacted, SP Thoubal informed that three underground cadres were killed in an encounter at Bungbal Khullen during an operation conducted by a combined force of 28 AR and others.

On the next day the villagers found the bullet riddled bodies of the two along with that of another at Yairipok Police Station.

A personnel of 21 Para lodged a complaint with the police station that based on specific information, a joint operation with police commandos, 21 Para, 28 AR was launched at Bungbal Khullen during the course of which an encounter with the militants took place resulting in killing three militants, the writs said.

The petitioner contended that the two slain youths were innocents and that they did not have any connection whatsoever with the any underground organisations.

The police investigation found out that they were killed while they were searching for the missing buffaloes around Bungbal Khullen and no adverse remarks were found on them.

The petitioners prayed before the court to direct the respondents to pay Rs 50 lakhs to each of the victims as compensation.

They also prayed to direct the CBI or any independent investigating agency to probe into the incident and find out the truth so that the guilty and responsible personnel could be punished.

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