Last rites of Sanajit performed

Imphal, June 03: Even as the Army authority has decided to probe the circumstances leading to the killing of Pheiroijam Sanajit, the last rites of the slain man was performed today morning under police protection. According to eye witnesses, a police team deposited the body at the Nongada residence of the deceased person at around 1.15 am after extracting a signature from the elder brother of Sanajit on a blank paper. However, local meira paibi members who were present at the Nongada Bazar meira shed vehemently protested the police conduct and with the arrival of more local people on hearing the commotion, put the body on a bullock cart and marched towards Lamlai police station to hand back the body. On seeing the large people assembled, Lamlai police personnel resorted to blank firing, fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the gathering with the people responding with catapult pellets. During the brief stand-off several people got hurt with the rubber bullets and tear gas shell while two persons identified as Thokchom Tingkhang (14) and Koijam Shantikumar (29) were arrested by the police. Another youth identified as Khongbantabam Sonia (21) suffered rubber bullet injuries. As the panicky people ran for cover, the Lamlai police personnel took back the body to Nongada after clearing the logs and boulders piled on the road. However, family members and infuriated local people refused to perform the rituals till about 9.30 am. Nevertheless, additional security reinforcement arrived with the Lamlai police station Officer-in-charge and coerced the family members to perform the rituals after which the body was taken near Nongada bridge where the body was consigned to flames. Police personnel also escorted passenger buses and other vehicles from Lamlai till Yaingangpokpi from 8 am. Some members of the JAC formed in the wake of the alleged killing after arrest of Sanajit, also revealed that restriction on vehicular traffic imposed to protest the killing has been lifted for some days due to public concern. They also informed that sit-in-protest was staged from today as part of continuing agitation to denounce the killing. Meanwhile, police source disclosed that a case has been registered against the 19 Rajput Rifles. The source further informed that the Defence Ministry that the Defence Ministry has written to the Army GOC on the Sanajit killing case that could ultimately result in army ordering an investigation to ascertain the facts and fix responsibility.