IMPHAL, December 2: The Manipur High Court today reserved its verdict in a case regarding the infamous Malom massacre incident in which Assam Rifles personnel shot dead 10 individuals including women on November 2, 2000.
A division bench of the High Court comprising of chief justice Laxmikant Mohapatra and justice Kh Nobin Singh reserved the verdict of the final hearing in the case today.
During today`™s final hearing which started at 10:40 am, the judges heard and carefully examined the arguments from the counsels of the respondents.
Speaking to IFP, a petitioner in the case, Tokpam Somorendra Singh, 74, of Malom Tulihal Awang Leikai said although it was observed that there are no evidences indicating that the persons shot dead by the Assam Rifles had planted the bomb which exploded, the court reserved the verdict.
He said the Assam Rifles personnel had shot dead 10 persons including his son T Shantikumar Singh who was studying in class XI Science at the Johnstone Higher Secondary School at the time.
He said the other civilians killed in the incident are recipient of the 1998 National Child Bravery Award Sinam Chandramani Singh, 18 of Malom Tulihal Makha Leikai and his elder brother Robinson Singh, a teacher at the Malom Megha High School; Soibam Prakash Singh of Malom Tulihal Awang Leikai who was returning home after submitting his class XI admission form; Ksh Inaocha Singh, 20 a goldsmith from Malom Tulihal Awang Leikai; Laishangbam Sana Devi, 62 of Nambol Kabo Wakching; Gurumayum Babu Sharma, 57 of Lairenjam, an employee of the Revenue department; second driver of the FCI Kangjam Bijoy Singh, 35; Amakcham Raghumani, 34 and Oinam Sanayaima Singh of Nambol Naorem.
Somorendra said although the then Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh had constituted a magisterial enquiry to probe the incident, its findings were not released to the public.
This was followed by another inquiry by a magistrate of a lower court following an order of the then Guahati High Court, Imphal bench, however, there has been no judicial verdict on the incident till date, he lamented.
The nine families of the victims had later filed the case seeking justice in the case, he said.