NHRC showcause to Army

NEW DELHI, January 28: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a show-cause notice to 32 Rashtriya Rifles regiment posted at Pangiawal in Manipur in a case of murder of a Kuki tribal in Northeast asking why a compensation of Rs one lakh be not given as interim relief to the victim, reports PTI. NHRC, which received a complaint from Kuki Movement for Human Rights, Manipur, against the Army's 32 Rashtriya Rifles posted at Churchandpur camp, for murderingone Haosinglhun Changsan, in its recent order gave four weeks time to the Army officials to respond. The Commission had earlier issued a notice to Manipur's chief secretary. The chief secretary in his response sent a report which stated: "There was a specific information against this person. He was apprehended and confessed his involvement with militant outfits. A 9-MM pistol was also recovered from his possession and he admitted to hold the weapon." "He volunteered to guide the Army at the night. When on the way the army was trapped in an ambush. In the ensuing shoot-out, Changsan tried to escape taking advantage of the position and in the cross-firing, he suffered injuries. An FIR was lodged with the police," the report said adding that the matter has been settled with the family of the deceased. On considering the report along with the post-mortem report, NHRC found that there were as may as 14 injuries on different parts of the body of the victim. "The injuries considered as a whole on the person of the deceased in this case appear to have been caused from close range and on chosen vital part of the body which in the dark may not have been possible to be caused in cross-firing specially in the case of firing as alleged in this case that the deceased was attempting to escape from the custody of the army", NHRC order said. "Post-mortem injuries suggest otherwise to make a show of killing in the cross-firing which, in fact, does not appear to be so," the order said.