CM urged to have CBI probe murder by army

IMPHAL | Sept 10

Brother of an allegedly murdered man, Phijam Manikumar Singh of Thangmeiband Hijam Dewan Leikai, Imphal submitted a memorandum to the chief minister, N. Biren Singh last week urging the latter have the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigate the deaths of his younger brother Phijam Naobi and two other Manipuris by the Intelligence Surveillance Unit of the 3-Corps of Indian army at Ranghapahar, Dimapur on March 10, 2010.

A release said that the Supreme Court of India in Writ Petition (CRL) No. 129 of 2012 on July 14, 2017 asking the CBI to probe into 83 cases of Extra Judicial Killings in Manipur. Unfortunately, the case of his younger brother was not included in the list of 1528 cases submitted before the Supreme Court as the place of their murder was outside of Manipur in Nagaland, it added.

It said on March 13, 2010, R.K Singh, brother of R.K. Roshan alias Ronald filed an FIR with the Dipuhar police station, Dimapur stating that his brother Ronald along with his brother Phijam Naobi (Phijam Manikumar) and Thounajam Prem alias Romen were abducted from the Char Mile area of Dimapur by a group of Army personnel led by a Lady Major who spoke non-local language.

On March 17, 2010 the Dimapur police was informed by the Assam police that three bullet ridden bodies have been found in Lakhijan area under Bokajan police station of Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Subsequently, the bodies were identified to be those abducted on March 10 at Char Mile, Dimapur, it added.

The FIR No. 36/2010 registered at Bokajan police station in Karbi Anglong district of Assam was transferred to Dipuhar police station, Dimapur and registered an FIR No. 40/2010 as the report of abduction was first filed at Dimapur and the Dimapur police subsequently approached the Army authorities at the 3-Corps Head Quarters but were denied any co-operation claiming immunity under AFSPA, it maintained.

It reiterated that on March 12, 2010, Major T. Ravi, who belong to the Intelligence unit of 3-Corps, turned whistle blower and wrote to the GOC-in-C, Eastern Command of the Indian Army stating that the three Manipuri persons were abducted in the March 10, 2010 by the Intelligence Surveillance Unit of the 3-Corps and after subjecting them to severe torture were shot dead behind the Unit mess.

When the matter was reported in the local as well as the national media the Army authorities at 3-Corps tried their level best to cover up the entire matter making a sham inquiry into the matter as many top brass of the Army would have been involved, it alleged.

The release stated that Manikumar moved the Gauhati High Court in April, 2014, after seeing no justice coming from the side of the Army, seeking for justice but the Army has been managing to keep the case pending till now on some pretext or the other.