Alleged fake encounter case: Court summons 5 cops

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 21: Taking cognizance of a charge sheet submitted by CBI/SIT against 5 State cops in connection with the alleged fake encounter/extra judicial killing of one Irengbam Ratankumar on September 1, 2010 on the Ningombam to Mongsangei road (near Vale Academy under Singjamei PS), the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Imphal West has issued summons, directing them to appear them on February 11 for necessary proceeding.
L Hangshing, Additional SP of CBI, ACB Imphal/SIT Manipur, submitted the charge sheet before the Court on May 13 last year against 5 cops identified as Inspector Nandeibam Jatishwar s/o (L) Birahari of Heirangoithong Chingtham Leikai, Head Constable James Panmei s/o Meithaingam Panmei of Longmai village Part III, Rifleman Thounaojam  Sanatomba s/o Amumacha of Haoreibi Mayai Leikai, Rifleman Okram Hemchandra s/o Biren of Thoubal Athokpam Makha Leikai and Rifleman Thokchom Ibomcha s/o Ibotombi of Heirok Part II Bamon Leikai. However, due to the failure of the State Home Department to furnish prosecution sanction, the Court proceeding was halted for the last 8 months without any further progress.
Recently, the Home Department granted prosecution sanctions against the cops and as such, CBI/ SIT submitted the required charge sheet today. Taking cognizance of the charge sheet, CJM Imphal West ordered the accused cops to appear before the Court on February 12 for necessary proceedings. 
It may be mentioned that a case was registered by CBI/ SIT New Delhi on February 27, 2018, by taking over investigation from Singjamei PS in connection with the death of Irengbam Ratankumar s/o Babu of Phoubakchao Awang Leikai on September 1, 2010.
The CBI investigation found that a team of Imphal West commando (consisting of the accused cops, under the command of then Sub Inspector Nandeibam Jatishwar) was deployed at Singjamei/ Kakwa and Canchipur area from 2 pm to 9.40 pm on the day of the incident (September 1). On September 4, Jatishwar submitted a written request to SP Imphal West for replacement of ammunition fired/used during the alleged encounter.
Investigation revealed that on September 1, at around 8 .30 pm, N Jatishwar submitted a written report to the OC of Singjamei PS claiming that an encounter took place at Ningombam to Mongsangei road, between his commando team and some unknown insurgents, while the security personnel were conducting routine frisking.
The then 2nd OC of Singjamei PS registered a case and a Singjamei police team went to the spot. They recovered a .32 pistol with one magazine, 2 live .32 ammunition rounds, an empty case of .32 round, a piece of white paper with the words 'Chahigi Loukhatgabada Senpham', a Chinese hand grenade and 4 empty 9 mm ammunition casings, along with the dead body of the victim.
On the other hand, the family members of the victim claimed that Irengbam Ratankumar was whisked away by three/ four unknown individuals from near Shija Hospital at around 3.30 pm in a car and that he was killed in an alleged fake encounter/extra judicial killing by Imphal West commando personnel.
The post mortem report revealed that the deceased sustained ten bullet injuries and a lacerated wound. Two deformed projectiles were also recovered from his body. The said two projectiles were found to be fired from a 7.62 mm calibre AK 47 or AK type rifle. Investigation also revealed that the .32 pistol supposedly recovered from the incident site, was a serviceable improvised pistol designed to chamber 7.65 mm calibre pistol cartridges.
The CBI charge sheet mentioned that on the day of the incident, accused N Jatishwar was the only commando personnel carrying a 9 mm pistol and he himself had claimed that he had fired 3 bullets from his allotted pistol. There was no other personnel in the team who carried and fired from a 9 mm pistol during the encounter which cast doubt on the recovery of a fourth empty cartridge of a 9 mm pistol.
Furthermore, the paper which was reportedly recovered from trouser of the deceased, was intact with no bullet mark or blood stain, the charge sheet added.
The charge sheet also noted that Ratankumar was staying at his aunt's place at Langol Housing Complex and on the day of the incident, at around 11 am, he had gone out for fishing near Shija Hospital after having his meal.