Efforts on to book AR man : CM

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 21: Chief Minister N Biren who is also in charge of Home Department today told the State Assembly that apart from registration of an FIR at Moreh police station, police have been working  to book the AR personnel who has been accused of molesting a lady IPS officer at Khudengthabi check-post of Assam Rifles.
Replying to a query raised by Congress MLA Kh Joykisan during the question hour, Biren said that the particular incident hurt the sentiments of people, particularly IAS and IPS officers’ associations of the country. 
The lady IPS officer was going on a duty to Moreh in civil dress with her security guards. She charged one Assam Rifles Rifleman PK Pandey of molesting her on the return journey at Khudengthabi check-post.
An FIR has been registered at Moreh police station on January 19 and due investigation is going on, Biren informed the House.
The AR Rifleman cannot be arrested directly as AR personnel are protected under CrPC Section 45. As such, AR authorities have been served show cause notice thrice, said the Chief Minister.
The first reply given by the AR commander said that the particular Rifleman had been posted at a sensitive area and he would not be able to come back to give statements to police, Biren conveyed.
The second reply said that the Rifleman had not yet come out from the sensitive area, and the third reply said that the Rifleman has been put on Court martial and it would not be possible to send him to the police until the Court martial process is over.
Nonetheless, taking serious note of the incident, the State Cabinet, after minute deliberation, sought permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs to allow AR authority hand over the particular Rifleman to the police, Biren said.
In response to a fresh show cause notice, AR authority said that an internal enquiry was going on. Subsequently, the IO of the particular case sent a summon through registered post  asking the Rifleman to come to the police on February 27, the Chief Minister informed the House.
Earlier, Joykisan asked how far AR personnel could have gone to harass general public when they have the audacity to molest even IPS officers.
Pointing out that it has been more than a month since an FIR was registered in connection with the incident, Joykisan sought a progress report of the investigation.