IMPHAL, January 15: Two police constables who were among the six suspended in connection the death of class XI student Sapam Robinhood told the incident’s commission of inquiry that no departmental enquiry has been initiated against them.
With two more police personnel deposing before the commission to probe the death of the student today, only one more of the 13 personnel who had submitted affidavits to the commission remain to be deposed. He is likely to depose before the commission tomorrow.
Six personnel are in suspension from service following the incident at near Minuthong on July 8, 2015.
The two constables who deposed today are constable K Starson Tarao one of the escort personnel of SI N Raju and constable Md Radikafur who was an escort personnel of Addl SP P Manjit Singh on the said day.
In his statement, Starson said that on the said day, his team led by SI N Raju was on duty on the eastern side of Minuthong from 10am.
He said he heard sounds of 2 or 3 shots of tear gas shells before his commander instructed him to fire one tear gas shell by putting the tear gas gun at 45 degree angle and accordingly he fired a shot. He said the total number of shots of tear gas shells which he heard on that day would be about 6 or 7; however, he cannot say who fired the first or last shells on that day.
During the cross examination by the counsel representing Robinhood’s family, he said even though he is under suspension, there is no departmental enquiry initiated against him. He said he was provided 13 tear gas shells out of which he used one shell.
During the cross examination by the counsel of the commission, he said that “no serious injury will be caused to any person if hit by a tear gas shell within a range of 60/70 meters.”
Constable Md Radikafur also said he heard sounds of about 2 or 3 shots of tear gas shells before his commander instructed him to use tear gas shell by putting the tear gas gun at 45 degree angle and accordingly he also fired one shot towards the northeast direction but he did not see where the tear gas shell fell.
He said he heard about 5 or 6 shots of tear gas shells on that day but cannot say from which directions the other tear gas shells were fired.
During the cross examination by the counsel representing Robinhood family, he said the effective long range of a tear gas shell is 135 meters.
He also maintained that no departmental enquiry has been initiated against him since he was suspended on August 8, 2015.