Police collect fund to engage lawyer

IGP called meeting of ‘concerned’ policemen to discuss EEVFAM case

By Paojel Chaoba

IMPHAL | Aug 28

The Manipur police department allegedly collected funds from majority of its junior and senior ranks to fight the impending case of fake encounters. The funds collected are meant to engage expert criminal lawyers to defend the police personnel who can be implicated in the ongoing CBI inquiry directed by the Supreme Court.

 According to confirmed sources, the directive given to collect funds was given from senior level officers and every police station collected the ‘taxes’. A constable has to fork out Rs. 500 and upto Rs 1000/2000 from the assistant sub-inspector level to the sub-inspector level. The figure escalates as the ranking of the police official rises. The source mentioned that the collected money is taken charge by a senior ranking police official.

The collection came in the light of the Supreme Court judgement on July 14 last directing an inquiry into 85 cases of fake encounters perpetrated in the state, which involved the armed forces and state police.

The CBI has already started processing the paper works, the final conclusion of its investigation report is due to be submitted by December 31 this year. The special investigation team is also authorised to charge-sheet any personnel if deemed necessary.

Before the collection started, an urgent meeting was convened at the conference hall of the SP Imphal West in the morning of August 10. The meeting was called by an IGP rank police officer and the discussion was about the Supreme Court case filed by Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association Manipur and Human Rights Alert.

The IGP had directed authorities concerned of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching, Tamenglong, NAB, 1 MR, 2 MR, 8 IRB to instruct the personnel to be present at the meeting.

The senior police officer asked 31 personnel of Imphal West to be present. They include subedar I. Khaba Singh, SI RK Binojit Singh, SI P. Tarunkumar, SI N. Jateshore, SI L. Lenin, SI RK Brojen, SI Kh. Inaobi, jemandar L. Bebekananda, ASI Kh. Somendro, ASI L. Sarat Singh, ASI S. Kirankumar, head constable (HC) Md Aktar Hussain, HC Md Ajit Singh, HC L. Naba Singh, self-confessed assailant of Th. Sanjit in the BT fake encounter case head constable Thounaojam Herojit Singh, HC L. Chingkheihunba Meitei, HC Yengkhom Keshorjit Singh, HC Victor Chabungbam, HC Elangbam Abung Singh, HC James Palmei, HC Kh. Sushilkumar Singh, HC Paominlun Singson, HC I. Dinachandra Singh, havildar L. Premkumar Singh, havildar L. Romesh Singh, HC Akhub Luther, HC Md Ibomcha, HC L. Lenin Singh, HC S. Premjit Singh, HC Y. Ibocha Singh and HC S. Thouba Meitei.

Another 10 personnel of Imphal East were also informed to attend the meeting. They are, Inspector P. John Singh, Inspector H. Surkumar Singh, SI Md Rajib Khan, jemandar A. Sunder Singh, SI M. Anandkumar Singh, havildar Priyokumar Singh, HC Th. Brojen Singh, HC Th. Amarjit Singh, HC Abdul Khalil and HC B Usharanjan.

Similarly, for Thoubal district police, Inspector N. Sadananda Singh, SI Md Saukat Ali, HC Kh. Rakib and haviladar Bronson Thanga were notified to attend the meeting.

Bishnupur police was notified for Inspector T. Khogen, Kakching police for HC H. Sakthi, Tamenglong police for SI Kh. Sunilkumar Singh, Narcotics and Affairs of Border for SI Kh. Utamkumar Singh and SI M. Goverdhon.

The 1 MR for havildar Kamei James, 8 MR for Hollal Haokip, CO 8 IRB assistant commandant Th. Krishnatombi Singh and subedar Md Soukat Ali of Home Guard.

It is learnt that the Manipur police department is taking the CBI investigation with all seriousness and preparing for any legal entanglements. Which police personnel will be implicated in the CBI investigation will be unfolded after the report is submitted on December 31. The Supreme Court is monitoring the developments as per its judgement passed.