Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 09 2009:
The Deputy Secretary of the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC), which is probing the July 23 Khwairamband Bazar incident, has taken the liberty of not sending the warrant of arrest issued against the SP of Imphal West and OC of Commandos for their repeated failure to appear before the Commission to record their statements over the controversial incident.
Disclosing this while addressing a press conference today afternoon, member of Manipur Human Rights Commission RK Rajendra informed that the Deputy Secretary took the liberty of not sending the warrant of arrest on the contention that there are some discrepancies in the procedure.
Even if there were discrepancies in the procedure, the same should have been brought to the notice of the Commission.
As the Deputy Secretary Y Rameshchandra has not done so and as the matter was kept concealed, an explanation call would be sought from him, Rajendra informed, adding that a new warrant of arrest would be issued to produce the SP Imphal West and the OC of Commandos before the Commission positively on October 21 .
In addition, summon notices would be issued to OC of City Police Y Munal, SO Dilipkumar, SI Premjit, ASI Brojendra and SI Rampu Kamson to appear before the Commission for recording their statements on October 19, Rajendra disclosed, adding that similar summons would also be sent to the family members of the slain as well as the injured victims to come for recording their statements on October 22 .
Rajendra further informed that the instructions of the State Home Department given on September 29 last as well as on October 7 to wrap up the ongoing inquiry of the Commission have been rejected after taking up the matter for discussion during a proceeding of the Commission today.
He explained that Human Rights Commission is a statutory body instituted under an Act of Parliament and an inquiry of the Commission cannot be stopped midway.
Pointing out that Judicial Inquiry is something that the Government institutes as and when it requires, Rajendra made it clear that the Rights Commission would take up appropriate measures if the Government continues to interfere in the inquiry of the Commission.
Under the provision of Section 13 (2) of Protection of Human Rights Act, statement of any person can be recorded if it is essential.
The provision makes no difference as to whether that person is the President or the Chief Minister, Rajendra pointed out.
Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee Against the Killing of Ch Sanjit has also reportedly lodged a complaint to the Commission prayer for a inquiry into the Khwairamband Bazar incident that left two persons namely Sanjit and Rabina killed and five others injured.
The complaint application signed by the convenor of the JAC Anita maintained that JAC could not lodge the complaint in time as the police commandos are always hunting for the members of the JAC.
The application further said that though the JAC had raised the demand for instituting a judicial inquiry into the incident, it was before Tehelka came out with the photographic evidences and now the JAC has no trust in the judicial inquiry of the Government.