**Charges Filed Against Former Manipur Police Commandos in 1998 Encounter Case**
The Imphal West Sessions Court has officially framed charges against four former commandos of the Manipur police in relation to the alleged fake encounter of Major Shimreingam Shaiza and four others that occurred nearly 26 years ago, on August 29, 1998. This incident has long been emblematic of the struggle for justice in Manipur.
The accused include Thokchom Krishnatombi, who was a Sub-Inspector at the time, along with constables Khundongbam Inaobi, Thangkhongam Lungdim, and Md Akhtar Hussain. The charges against them are serious, encompassing IPC Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), and 34 (acts done with common intention).
Major Shaiza, who was the brother of former Manipur Chief Minister Yangmasho Shaiza, was reportedly traveling in a vehicle with a Nagaland number plate when he was allegedly killed in what has been described as a fake encounter. Initially, the Manipur police claimed that the incident was an encounter with armed insurgents. However, this narrative began to unravel as time passed.
According to the FIR filed by SI Krishnatombi, the vehicle allegedly failed to stop at a police signal and opened fire, leading to a police response. This account was contested by eyewitnesses and the victims’ families, who maintained that the shooting was unprovoked. A subsequent FIR filed by Major Shaiza’s wife, Pemla Shaiza, characterized the event as a cold-blooded execution of innocent civilians, including notable individuals like Thenucho, a former Nagaland Assembly Speaker.
The case remained unresolved for many years until the Supreme Court intervened in July 2017, directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the investigation. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed, with assistance from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Justice C Upendra Commission of Inquiry. The SIT’s findings suggested that the weapons purportedly recovered from the vehicle were likely planted, indicating that the encounter was staged to conceal intentional killings.
In June 2020, the CBI filed a charge sheet naming six commando personnel. While the court has now found sufficient grounds to proceed with charges against four of them, the case against the remaining personnel has stalled due to the Manipur government’s Home Department denying prosecution sanction.
As this case progresses, it continues to highlight the ongoing quest for justice in Manipur, raising questions about accountability and the rule of law in the region.
**FAQ**
*What is the significance of the charges against the former police commandos?*
The charges represent a critical step towards accountability in a case that has symbolized delayed justice in Manipur for nearly three decades, reflecting broader issues of human rights and law enforcement practices in the region.