IMPHAL, Aug 19 ? The Assam Rifles have refused to appear before the C Upendra Commission probing the circumstances that led to the custodial death of Th Manorama Devi in Manipur, and have filed a petition questioning the legal authority of the commission to summon its personnel. The commission had summoned the Commandant of 17 Assam Rifles, Col Jagmohan Singh, and four others three times to appear before it in connection with the inquiry, commission sources said.
The Assam Rifles petition said the commission should keep its proceedings in abeyance in view of the writ petition filed by it in Gauhati High Court questioning the commission?s authority.
The petition is yet to be heard by the court. The commission had been set up by the Manipur Government some three weeks ago after a series of agitations by various organisations protesting against the custodial killing of Th Manorama Devi allegedly by the Assam Rifles.