Manipur fake encounter inquiry report submitted

Finally, Justice PG Agarwal on Tuesday submitted the much awaited inquiry report on alleged fake encounter of Chungkham Sanjit in Manipur. The one man Justice PG Agarwal Inquiry Commission was constituted to probe into the alleged fake encounter that took place on July 23, 2009 leaving two persons dead and five others wounded.

Justice (Retd.) PG Agarwal of Gauhati High Court came from Guwahati to hand over the 80-page report on fake encounter, also known as BT Road July incident. Agarwal submitted the report to Additional Secretary (Home) of the Government of Manipur, M Yaiskul at a function in Imphal. The 80-page inquiry report includes statements of 21 witnesses' and recommendations of the Commission.

Talking to media, Agarwal said that he could not make the recommendations public as it would be against law. He further said that his work is complete and now it is the responsibility of government to do what is needed. “My work is over, it is up to State Government now to do what is required,” he said.

On the fateful day of July 23, 2009, Chungkham Sanjit was shot dead in broad daylight by police. The police claimed that Sanjit was a militant and was killed in an encounter. The incident, however, got exposed when Tehelka, a national news magazine, published a news report with series of photographs that contradicted police’s claim that the incident was an encounter.

Beside Sanjit, a pregnant women was also killed in the incident and five persons seriously injured.

Earlier on the basis of police report, Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh made a statement that the deaths were result of an encounter. However, after Tehelka exposure, he had to play down his remark and had to set up an Inquiry Commission to probe into the incident.

The Commission, which was constituted on August 27, 2009, was supposed to submit its report within two months. The term, however, had to be extended as experts of Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) sought more time to verify the originality of photographs published in magazine (Tehelka). The State Home Department had extended deadline to submit the report up to May 20, 2011.

The state government also approached CBI to investigate the incident. CBI has already submitted its report, it has chargesheeted six police personnels, including two inspectors. And the hearing of case has already been started.