IMPHAL, December 5: In a landmark judgment today, the High Court of Manipur has ordered the Centre to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakhs each to the families of the victims of the November 2 , 2000 Malom incident in which personnel of the 8 Assam Rifles gunned down 10 individuals including a woman.
Speaking to media persons today at his Sagolband Meino Leirak chamber, advocate S Lakhikanta said on December 2, a division bench of the High Court comprising of chief justice Laxmikant Mohapatra and justice Kh Nobin Singh had reserved the verdict of the final hearing in the case.
Advocate Lakhikanta who represented the petitioners in the case said according to the judgment, the Union of India, one of the six respondents in the case has been directed to pay the compensation within four months from today.
The other respondents in the case are secretary Ministry of Home Affairs, government of India, Director General Assam Rifles, commandant 8 Assam Rifles, State of Manipur represented by the chief secretary and secretary (Home) government of Manipur, he said.
The ten victims are Tokpam Shantikumar Singh of Malom Tulihal Awang Leikai, 1998 National Child Bravery Awardeee Sinam Chandramani Singh and his brother S Robinson Singh of Malom Tulihal Makha Leikai, Soibam Prakash Singh of Malom Tulihal Awang Leikai; Ksh Inaocha Singh of Malom Tulihal Awang Leikai, Laishangbam Sana Devi of Nambol Kabo Wakching, employee of the Revenue department Gurumayum Babu Sharma, FCI second driver Kangjam Bijoy Singh, Amakcham Raghumani Singh and Oinam Sanayaima Singh of Nambol Naorem.
The advocate said the incident occurred around 3:20pm of November 2, 2000 at Nambol Boroi Makhong along the Tiddim Road.
Three vehicles of the 8 Assam Rifles was moving towards Imphal along the road he said adding that as soon as the first two vehicles passed the spot, a bomb exploded on the western side of the road in front of the last vehicle.
Soon after the sudden explosion, the personnel jump down and took combat readiness postures creating a warlike situation in the area, he said.
Within minutes, three persons on a two-wheeler who were returning early from their office coming from the northern direction, a woman who was pillion riding in another two-wheeler, her sister`™s son driving the two-wheeler were all stopped and taken inside a waiting shed and gunned down with automatic rifles along with two young students found waiting for a vehicle to go to Imphal for a coaching class, he said.
Another person who looked up on hearing the gunshots while waiting for a friend around 30 metre from the shed towards the south was also shot dead, he said. Two other persons on a two-wheeler who were rushing towards their homes after hearing the explosion and the gunshots were also shot dead at Malom Merakhong, the advocate said.
He said regarding the incident, the then State government had constituted a magisterial inquiry and at the same time, the nine families of the victims had petitioned the then Imphal Bench of the Gauhati High Court to bring justice to the incident.
Following a directive from the then High Court, a District and Session Judge/ Manipur East led team conducted an inquiry into the incident and submitted the report to the court, he said.
Advocate Lakhikanta said the final hearing of the case filed by the nine families was held on December 2, with the division bench of the High Court of Manipur comprising of chief justice Laxmikant Mohapatra and justice Kh Nobin Singh reserving their verdict.
He said during the case, three personnel of the Assam Rifles including a havildar gave their statements as Prosecution Witnesses, and 17 PW from the side of the petitioners also gave their statements.
During the case, the AR had stated that the victims were killed in cross firing and that after the explosion, the AR team was also fired upon, which the court had rejected, he said.
The respondents were represented by State government Standing counsel S Rupachandra and government advocate RS Reisang.
Following the landmark judgment of the court, Tokpam Somorendra Singh father of Shantikumar Singh expressed happiness over the judgement.
He told Imphal Free Press that the judgment will be remembered by the people in all times to come.
It may be mentioned that the anti-Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act crusader Irom Chanu Sharmila had started her fast since the Malom incident.