Petitioners against fake encounter awarded Rs. 5 lakhs each

IMPHAL | Sept 7

A division bench of the High Court of Manipur comprising of chief justice N. Kotiswar Singh and justice Kh. Nobin Singh have awarded an amount of Rs. 5 lakhs each to petitioners against fake encounter.

A released of HRLN said the first incident of fake encounter occurred on January 19, 2009, in which some personnel of Manipur Police Commando arrested Khumukcham Thoiba alias Tomba Singh from his house located at Mahou Tera Wangoo Lamkhai, Chandel district.

Thoiba was killed on the same day in a fake encounter at Keirak Leirak Achouba, Thoubal district. In this regard, the wife of the deceased, Leivon Rosmi Kom filed a Writ Petition before the high court on May 30, 2009. Consequently, the district judge, Manipur West conducted an extensive enquiry and submitted his report by ascertaining that the petitioner’s husband was arrested from his house and thereafter he was killed in a fake encounter by a combined team of Manipur Police Commando and personnel of 21 Assam Rifles.

The matter was finally heard today and thereafter, the high court of Manipur has directed the State of Manipur and the Union of India to pay Rs. 5, 00, 000 as compensation to the petitioner within four months, said the release.

The second incident occurred in the intervening night of March 14 and March 15, 2004, in which some personnel of 19 Rajput Rifles (Bikaner) had apprehended Khumanthem Ajitkumar alias Naoba Singh from his house located at Karong Mamang Leikai, Imphal West district.

Subsequently, Ajitkumar was killed in a fake encounter along Khurkhul-Sekmai Road. The father of the deceased, Khumanthem Nagor Singh lodged a report to the Patsoi police station, however, could not bring justice.

Ultimately, he filed a Writ Petition before the high court on April 5, 2008, seeking appropriate remedy. Accordingly, the former district judge, Manipur East, M. Manojkumar Singh had submitted his inquiry report on June 28, 2012, ascertaining that Ajitkumar was picked up from his house by the personnel of 19 Rajput Rifles and killed. The high court of Manipur has finally heard the case today and directed the Union of India to pay Rs. 5,00,000 as compensation under public law domain within four months to the petitioner, said the release.

It said, advocate Meihoubam Rakesh appeared on behalf of the above mentioned two petitioners while senior advocate and assistant solicitor general, Salam Rupachandra Singh appeared on behalf of the Union of India and senior government advocate, R.S. Reisang appeared on behalf of the State of Manipur.