IMPHAL, January 28: Following the confession of a Manipur Police head constable Thounaojam Herojit to his part in the broad daylight killing of an unarmed militant suspect, Chungkham Sanjit on July 23, 2009 in the BT Road, people from different North-East communities led by the North East Forum for International Solidarity gathered in huge numbers and protested today before the Manipur Bhawan, New Delhi.
According to a statement of the forum, a memorandum was also submitted to the Chief Minister of Manipur through the resident commissioner Manipur Bhawan, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi demanding immediate suspension of SP Imphal West Dr Ak Jhaljit and an inquiry initiated against him.
In the memorandum, NEFIS has also demanded an independent inquiry of the case by an international organisation.
It has also demanded appropriate compensation for the victim’s family and that the government should tender an immediate apology not only to the victim’s family, but to the people of Manipur for brutally violating their democratic rights.
NEFIS has also warned to build a huge movement against the Manipur government if the demands are not met immediately.
The NEFIS statement said the recent admission of head constable Herojit Singh that he was told by the then additional SP Imphal West Dr Akoijam Jhaljit, who is now the SP, to “Finish him off” and that Sanjit was unarmed and had been in compliant with the police, when he was detained amply shows the way in which the Manipur Police commandos have been allowed to function by the Manipur government and have consequently become adept at “finishing off” people in extra-judicial killings and fake encounters.
It said this is a clear case of state-sponsored fake encounter, denying people their basic tight to be tried through a due legal process.
At the same time, NEFIS has also informed the IFP that it will submit a similar memorandum to the Manipur Governor soon.
