By Bachaspatimayum Bisheswar
IMPHAL, July 17: Five years after, she lost her eldest son Ch Sanjit Meitei in the infamous BT Road firing, Chungkham (o) Taratombi Devi continue to see a ray of hope in the ongoing court case regarding the firing incident.
A case is still going on at the District and Session Judge, Manipur East.
Ch Sanjit Meitei, son of Ch Khelen Singh of Khurai Kongpal Sajor Leikai was killed in a controversial encounter in the heart of the city at BT Road on July 2003, 2009, while, Thokchom (o) Rabina Devi, wife of Th Chinglensana of Lamdeng Khunou near Lamshag Bazar Imphal West was also killed some distance away near the entrance of Ima Keithel along the same road.
This IFP reporter had met with Chungkham (o) Taratombi Devi today at her residence where she continues to dream of justice.
She was working alone on her loom in an unkept room.
Before starting to speak of the incident, she kept silent and seemed to shiver as if gathering her strength to recall the past incident, when she had lost her first son.
She broke her silence saying that since last year’s death anniversary, no one has visited her or the family in connection with the incident.
She said it is almost a year since she had attended the case hearing at Hotel Tampha.
Then the CBI counsel, P Ibomcha had assured her that the case will be completed in another two to three months, however, it is getting hard to even contact the counsel to enquire about any update in the case.
Taratombi said she works on her hand loom to earn the livelihood of her family and provide education for her three remaining sons.
Her husband is a driver by profession and stays at Yairipok to earn and contribute to her meagre earnings.
She appealed to the concerned authorities to speed up the case which is still going on at the District and Session Judge, Manipur East.
If the government fails to punish the culprits, she would like the government to hand over them to her, she cried while stating that she is not at all satisfied with the attitude of the State government.
She even went to the extent of alleging the government of using delaying tactics in the case.
Five years have gone by, without much hope or justice for her son, she said, but she will continue to pay her tribute on her son’s 6th death anniversary on July 23, 2014 with what little she has.
