IMPHAL, December 15: An executive magistrate had issued a written order directing the police personnel to disperse the student mob by using a little force, Additional Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) Imphal East P Manjit deposed before the Justice Mutum Binoykumar Commission of Inquiry constituted to probe the death of Sapam Robinhood in Police action during a student rally on July 8 near Minuthong.
The proceeding of the Commission of Inquiry had begun yesterday at the State Guest House, Sanjenthong.
In his statement, the police officer mentioned that at an iron/ steel Almirah workshop located next to Akash Travel Agency, he and the then OC Dinesh had told the executive magistrate that the student protestors couldn’t be disperse without using force.
Accordingly, the executive magistrate gave a written order to the OC in the presence of SI Bandana and himself, Manjit said in his statement.
It took about 10-20 seconds for the executive magistrate to issue his written order, he added.
The order in handwriting directed the police officers of Imphal East District to disperse the mob by using little force as possible, he said in his statement.
He said he then came back at his previous place where his vehicle was parked and also informed the other escort personnel about the written order to disperse the crowd.
Thereafter, he heard the sounds of explosion of about two or three tear gas shells, he said.
He instructed one of his escort personnel to use the tear gas shell by firing in the air at 45 degree angle, he said.
After instructing so, he was behind the vehicle taking cover. But he did not see his escort personnel firing tear gas shell. However he heard the sounds tear gas shots very close to him for about 10 to 15 seconds.
He said he heard sounds of 2/3 tear gas shells exploding.
At that time, most of the students were dispersed but there were about 100 students in the said area, he said while adding that he then saw an injured boy attended to by some students on the southern roadside along the Tellipati Road beyond the iron barricades.
He said he instructed the then OC Dinesh and his two escort personnel to take out the boy but were prevented by students who pelting stones.
While they were trying to take out the boy, two persons, one in civil dress and another a student, took the injured boy in a motorcycle and they went towards Public Hospital, Hatta, he said.
We did not intercept the two persons taking away the boy because we thought that giving medical treatment to the boy was important and intercepting them was not correct, he said.
During the cross examination of the police officer by the counsel of Sapam Robinhood, the officer said in his opinion “little force” include using of anti-riot gun and lathi charge.
During the cross examination of the police officer by the counsel of the commission, he said that the written order of the executive magistrate was prepared and issued at a steel almirah shop located on the south of Akash Travel Agency at Minuthong, Hatta. The said shop still exists.
Only 5 or 6 tear gas shells were fired on that day for dispersing the students. On 8th July, 2015 students of CC Higher Secondary School and Lamlong High School also took out a protest rally. It appears that the rallies of students of the said schools took out after a pre-planned programme, he said.
“I myself did not receive any intelligence feedback or prior information about the said protest rallies of the students,” he replied answering the counsel.
The said anti-riot gun is also known as gas gun. The smoke shells are prescribed as non-lethal as printed on the shell itself, he said.