Imphal, March 13: The Cabinet which met today has decided to institute a Judicial Inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 to inquire into the facts and circumstances leading to the detention of M Naobi Chanu of Yairipok Leirongthel by Thoubal police commandos and the allegations that Naobi was sexually molested while in custody.

The Cabinet has also decided to institute a Judicial Inquiry into the allegations of mass rape of young women at Lungthunlien village under Parbung police station by cadres of the KCP and UNLF, said an official statement today.

Each of the two Judicial Inquiries will be conducted by a retired Judge of the High Court, said the statement and added that the procedure for notification of the Judicial Inquiries and the appointment of the two Judges has been initiated.

Formal notifications will be issued soon, said the statement adding that all formalities have been completed.

Earlier Chief Minister O Ibobi informed the House that the Cabinet had decided to institute a Judicial Inquiry to probe the case of Naobi and explained the reasons for going in for such an inquiry.

The Chief Minister said that the decision to institute a Judicial Inquiry instead of handing over the case of Naobi to the CBI was taken after considering a few points.

Explaining, the Chief Minister said that handing over the case to CBI would entail a long process and moreover there is no guarantee that the CBI will agree to take up the case.

People also do not seem to trust the Magisterial Inquiry, and hence the decision to institute a Judicial Inquiry was taken, Ibobi added.

The Government will look to appoint Judges in the two cases from outside Manipur, said the CM but added that if no Judges from outside Manipur are available then retired Judges from Manipur will be appointed.

The last date for submission of reports and documents to the Magisterial Inquiry in Naobi's case was today, but so far no one has come forward to testify, the CM informed.

On the reason why Naobi was picked up by the police commandos in the first place, the CM said that the police commandos rushed to the residence of the late Bikash on hearing that a gun salute was paid at his funeral service.

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