Imphal, November 13 2008: The order of the State Government directing the family members of the IRB personnel stationed inside Kangla to vacate from the family line has been annulled by the Gauhati High Court terming it as illegal and void.

Following the bomb attack at the Chief Minister's bungalow by PREPAK Cobra Task Force on the night of September 1 last, the order to vacate the family members of the IRB personnel from the family line of Kangla had been issued as part of security measures.

The order had been issued by the DGP based on the letter written to him by Under Secretary (Home) at the instruction of the Chief Minister.

Contesting the order, wives of 126 IRB personnel who are posted inside Kangla and staying along with their family members in the family line filed a writ petition in the Gauhati High Court on September 11 .

The writ petition stated that being a full-fledged battalion, Ist IRB had been posted in Churachandpur and out of this battalion 126 personnel were stationed at Kangla for the primary objective of protecting the Kangla Fort Board.

Inspite of that these 126 IRB personnel who have been allowed to stay along with their family members in the family line are also being deployed as commanders in encounter insurgent operations by the Government from time to time.

Moreover, most of these personnel which include surrenderees have come not just from different parts of the State but also from outside and their children are studying in nearby educational institutions of Imphal East and West District.

After hearing the case, the Imphal Bench of the Gauhati High Court led by Justice Ashok Potsangbam declared the order as illegal and void.

Advocate Khaidem Mani appeared in the case on behalf of the petitioners while from the side of the respondents which include Home Secretary, DGP and Commandant of Ist IRB, the case had been fought by AG N Koteshore and Advocate Biscount.

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