IMPHAL, August 27: Five years after the Khwairamband Bazar fake encounter, additional SP (Operations) of Thoubal District Police, Sarangthem Ibomcha Singh has deposed before the Sessions Judge, Manipur East today as a prosecution witness.
The alleged encounter had injured five persons and had resulted in the death of Chungkham Sanjit and Th Rabina in July 23, 2009.
Ibomcha in his deposition stated that there was no record of the number of ammunition consumed by each commando personnel implicated in the case except for commando Md Imran.
He was given six rounds and they were all spent.
Ibomcha mentioned that the armoury staff should have written the number of ammunition consumed by each commando personnel.
He also stated that during the course of the investigation and examination of sub-inspector K Punshiba, head constable Keshor Singh, havildar Jagat Singh and head-constable Binoy Kumar, did not state if they had fired any rounds with the fire arms issued to them.
He also stated that he did not know the reason for their suspension. But, on August 5, 2009, he came to know the 8th M R Commandant had notified that havildar Th. Jagat Singh and rifleman Toiyaima had been suspended from service.
Similarly, he said he is not aware of the reasons for the suspension of of rifleman Imran Khan’s suspension later through the 5th IRB Commandant.
In his deposition at Cheirap Court today as prosecution witness number 58, Ibomcha said that he has inspected the ten seizure memos given by the then officer in charge Y Munal Singh and other concerned police officers.
The seizure list was prepared within July 23, 2009 and August 20, 2009. The memo includes four 9mm pistol, 3 sub-machine guns (carbines), four AK rifles along with empty cases and live rounds.
It may be mentioned that the city police station had taken up case under FIR no. 75(7) 2009 city police station under section 302/326/307/506 of the IPC, 17/20 UA (P) Act and 25 (I-B) Arms Act. But, after the Tehelka magazine report on August 1, 2009, the city police station took up another case under FIR number 82(8)2009 under 302/34 of the IPC under section 27 (B) of the Arms Act. The case was investigated by additional SP S Ibomcha Singh before being handed over to additional SP (prosecution) S Chaoba Singh
