LAISHRAM (O) CHAOBA DEVI Vs. STATE OF MANIPUR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. Th. Ranjit, learned counsel for the petitioner as well as Mr. R.S Reisang, learned senior GA for the State.

(2.) The present petition has been filed by the wife of the deceased namely, L. Ibobi Singh who was allegedly killed by the State Police Commandos in an alleged fake encounter on 22.01.2008 at about 8:30 p.m at Tera Sadokpam Leikai, Imphal.

(3.) The petitioner contended that her husband was earlier working as a salesman at a shop in Nagamapal, Imphal called, "Deepak Store" in 1995. Due to his sincerity, honesty and hard work, the owner of the said shop made her husband as a Manager and also entrusted him the job of collecting dues from the nearby retailer shops and bakeries who took ingredients on credit from the shop for which job, a Honda Activa scooter was also given to him. He was also an active member of the "All Manipur Shops and Establishment Association". According to the petitioner, on the fateful day on 22.01.2008 at about 2:30 p.m., L. Ibobi Singh left his rented home for Imphal market with a sum of Rs. 57,000/- for purchasing raw gold in the said Honda Activa scooter. However, the petitioner's husband did not come back till late in the evening and was anxious about his whereabouts and his mobile phone was also found to be switched off. To her shock, at about 10:15 p.m. of the night, she was informed by one of her relatives that there was a news telecast in the local news channel (ISTV) that L. Ibobi Singh was shot dead by Police Commandos of Imphal West Police at Tera Sadokpam Leikai. Immediately, on hearing the said news, one of the brothers-in-law of the petitioner went to the spot and identified the dead body as that of her husband and that he was shot dead with 18 bullets.