IMPHAL, March 31: The final argument in regard to the killing of Sapam Robinhood has been given by senior advocate Khaidem Mani before the Commission of Inquiry headed by Mutum Binoykumar Singh today.
The hearing was held at the State Guest House located at Sanjenthong for the second day and began from 11 am onwards and lasted till 1:30 pm.
Pointing out several lapses and excesses on the part of the police in their handling of the incident leading to the death of Robinhood, senior advocate Mani representing Robinhood’s family argued that the case should be handed over to the CBI and a regular FIR should be registered in the case.
In his second and final argument before the Commission, Mani explicitly mentioned that the order given by the executive magistrate to control the student rally on the fateful day was given at 1.20 pm.
However, the police action was perpetrated before the executive magistrate had issued the order, as in the suo-moto case registered by the Porompat Police in connection with the incident, the date and hour of occurrence is mentioned as July 8, 2015 at 1:15pm, he said in his argument.
By the time, Sapam Robinhood was already admitted at hospital and this points the excesses and lapses of the police personnel, Mani mentioned.
He continued that it was also not mentioned as to what non-violent measures were taken up by the police to control the situation before resorting to violent measures.
The order of the executive magistrate mentions that there should be minimal force used by the police even if a tussle had broken out. The post mortem report of Robinhood points that the cause of death was due to a ‘blunt object’ or maybe a stone or a rubber bullet, he observed.
The most probable cause must be from a tear gas shell. Before he was hit by the shell, Robinhood had no other injury mark on his body, he said.
There are eyewitnesses who saw Robinhood collapsing from the attack, the eyewitnesses have given their testimony to the Commission, Mani said.
Despite the 144 CrpC being enforced, weapons were used without receiving order of the executive magistrate, he argued.
This is due to the police lacking in proper mob control training and failure of the intelligence network, he argued.
He urged the Commission that the government should provide compensation to Robinhood’s family also.
The police counsel will give their argument on April 2.