IMPHAL, March 30 (Times News Network): Lawyers who appeared on behalf of the Manipur police department in the judicial inquiry into the July 23, 2009 shootout at Imphal in which former militant Ch Sanjit Meetei was killed, argued that Sanjit died in an encounter with police commandos. A pregnant woman named Rabina Devi was also killed in the shootout while five others were injured.
Incidentally, the state-sponsored inquiry commission headed by justice (retired) PG Agarwal has been conducting its probe without any lawyers on the victims' side. On the other hand, following a CBI inquiry, the case is currently being heard separately by a special court.
A large-scale public protest was spearheaded by the Apunba Lup after a national magazine published a sequel of telling photographs on the unfolding of the entire incident. The pictures showed Sanjit being surrounded by police commandos until his bullet-riddled body was brought to a pharmacy along Bir Tikendrajit road in the heart of Imphal.
During the probe's final argument, held at the state-run Hotel Imphal here on Tuesday, senior advocate N Kumarjit Singh, who represented the police department, argued that no tangible evidence had emerged in the inquiry to implicate any police personnel of any wrongdoing in the death of Rabina and Sanjit.
However, it has emerged in the case that Rabina was killed due to "cross-firing between Sanjit and the police commandos, while Sanjit died because of injuries sustained in the encounter, inside the pharmacy.
The inquiry commission's counsel, Th Modhu Singh said no one came forward voluntarily to cooperate with the probe panel. He also expressed dissatisfaction over police commandos not turning up for the cross-examination earlier. Based on the witnesses' testimonies, he opined that the bullet that hit Rabina might not have been fired from a pistol.
Having heard the arguments, the commission reserved its report. It, however, allowed the counsel appearing for the police commandos to file his written arguments within a week's time.
In September last year, the CBI, which probed the incident, submitted a chargesheet against nine police personnel including two inspectors before the chief judicial magistrate, Imphal. The cops had been chargesheeted under sections 302, 218, 203 of the Indian Penal Code and also under substantive offences. Currently, a special (CBI) court at Imphal is conducting a trial in the case. Seven police commandos, including a sub-inspector, were suspended in connection with the shootout.
Incidentally, the state-sponsored inquiry commission headed by justice (retired) PG Agarwal has been conducting its probe without any lawyers on the victims' side. On the other hand, following a CBI inquiry, the case is currently being heard separately by a special court.
A large-scale public protest was spearheaded by the Apunba Lup after a national magazine published a sequel of telling photographs on the unfolding of the entire incident. The pictures showed Sanjit being surrounded by police commandos until his bullet-riddled body was brought to a pharmacy along Bir Tikendrajit road in the heart of Imphal.
During the probe's final argument, held at the state-run Hotel Imphal here on Tuesday, senior advocate N Kumarjit Singh, who represented the police department, argued that no tangible evidence had emerged in the inquiry to implicate any police personnel of any wrongdoing in the death of Rabina and Sanjit.
However, it has emerged in the case that Rabina was killed due to "cross-firing between Sanjit and the police commandos, while Sanjit died because of injuries sustained in the encounter, inside the pharmacy.
The inquiry commission's counsel, Th Modhu Singh said no one came forward voluntarily to cooperate with the probe panel. He also expressed dissatisfaction over police commandos not turning up for the cross-examination earlier. Based on the witnesses' testimonies, he opined that the bullet that hit Rabina might not have been fired from a pistol.
Having heard the arguments, the commission reserved its report. It, however, allowed the counsel appearing for the police commandos to file his written arguments within a week's time.
In September last year, the CBI, which probed the incident, submitted a chargesheet against nine police personnel including two inspectors before the chief judicial magistrate, Imphal. The cops had been chargesheeted under sections 302, 218, 203 of the Indian Penal Code and also under substantive offences. Currently, a special (CBI) court at Imphal is conducting a trial in the case. Seven police commandos, including a sub-inspector, were suspended in connection with the shootout.
