Imphal: A petition on the 2010 fake encounter case against India's Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh Suhag was withdrawn today from the Manipur High Court, following the latter's opinion that it is not appropriate for the case to be taken up in the court here.
On March 10, 2010, three persons from Manipur identified, as RK Ronel (35) of Sagolband (Imphal), Phijam Naobi (45) of Thangmeiband (Imphal) and Th Prem aka Romen of Langol Laimanai (Imphal), were kidnapped from 4th Mile area of Dimapur in Nagaland. They were later found dead in Assam's Lakhijan area under Bokajan police station of Assam's Karbi Anglong district on March 17.
Mention may be made here that The Times of India had reported, "Major T Ravi Kiran, second-in-command of the intelligence unit of the Corps, reportedly wrote a letter on March 12, 2010, to the GOC-in-C eastern command and to the Army chief complaining that the three men were abducted and brought to their unit on March 10, 2010, and were later tortured and shot dead in the night behind the unit's mess".
Colonel Govindan who was then the Officer Commanding of the 3 Corps (intelligemnce Unit) was behind the killings and was assisted by one Major Rubeena Kaur Kher and Major Nector Baum of the same unit.
One of the victims' brother, Phijam Manikumar (Naobi's brother), had filed a petition with Advocate Khaidem Mani as the counsel for the victims at Manipur High Court.
On Monday, when they came for the hearing at Manipur High Court, the Acting Chief Justice of the Court, L.K Mohapatra said that since the incident had occurred in Nagaland and Assam and not in Manipur it is not proper for the case to be heard in the court here. The Acting Chief Justice also said that the petitioner should file the petition directly at the Gauhati High Court in Guwahati or its bench in Kohima. Following this, counsel of the petitioner Advocate Khaidem Mani had requested the concerned authority for the petition to be withdrawn and the Manipur High Court obliged.
Now, a fresh petition will be filed either directly at Gauhati High Court or its bench in Kohima.
Mention may be made here the petition was filed against six parties including the Union of India, the state of Nagaland, the state of Manipur, the Indian Army Headquarters, Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh Suhag and Col Govindhan Shreekumar.
Advocate Amarjit Yumnam is the Counsel for these six parties.
