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Judgment
L.S.Jamir, J
Heard Mr.L.Somorendro, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr.S.Samarjeet, learned CGC for the Union and Mr.H.Samarjeet, learned GA for the State respondents.
[2] The petitioner is the mother of the deceased Oinam Anand @ Girani Meetei.
It is the case of the petitioner that the deceased was a driver of passenger bus plying from Dolaithabi via Imphal. That on the intervening night of 22nd and 23rd October, 2009 at about 11 P.M. the door of the petitioner's house was knocked from outside to open. On hearing the knock, the petitioner enquired the identities of the person who were knocking the door. However, the petitioner was insisted to open the door. After opening the door, the petitioner saw two security personnel in full uniform holding weapons outside the door. The said two security personnel entered into the house after the petitioner and asked the petitioner to wake up all the family members. Accordingly, the petitioner woke up her two sons namely Oinam Anand Meetei and Oinam Naobicha Meetei. Her son namely, Oinam Anand Meetei was told to put on his pant and shirt and after doing the same the security personnel pulled away and pushed Oinam Anand Meetei outside the house. And the security personnel warned the petitioner and her husband not to make any noise and door of the house was locked from outside. The petitioner and her husband woke up their neighbours and relatives and when they reached the house of the younger brother of the petitioner's husband they were informed that the son of the petitioner's husband's younger brother namely Oinam Pakpa @ Maipaksana Meetei was also taken away by some security personnel. Thereafter, the petitioner and her family members and other persons from the locality tried to trace the location/whereabouts of the said two persons. The husband of the petitioner and his brother Oinam Bhimo Meetei made a joint report before the Superintendent of Police, Imphal East in the morning of 23rd October 2009 with regard to the arrest of their sons. Again on 31.10.2009, the father of late O.Maipaksana Meetei namely Oinam Bhimo again lodged a report with the Officer in-charge of the Heingang Police Station about the arrest of the petitioner's son as well as his son by security personnel. On 1.11.2009 the petitioner was informed that their son Oinam Anand Meetei and Oinam Maipaksana Meetei along with five other unknown persons were killed at Andro Sanapat Thumkhong in an encounter in the intervening night of 31.10.2009 and 1.11.2009.
Thereafter, on 2.11.2009 the petitioner was informed about the presence of the dead body of her son at Lilong Mortuary. Thereafter, the petitioner and her husband along with the parents of late Oinam Maipaksana and other villagers went to Lilong Mortuary and found the dead bodies of Oinam Anand and Oinam Maipaksana at the mortuary.
On 24.11.2009, the husband of the petitioner and his brother approached the Superintendent of Police, Thoubal District for issuance of copies of the FIR, Inquest Report and Post Mortem report in connection with the death of their sons. However, none of the requested documents were supplied. Again on 18.2.2010 the petitioner submitted a written statement before the Magistrate in-charge of the Magisterial Inquiry narrating the facts as to how her son was arrested and subsequent efforts made by the family members. However no fruitful results emanated and, therefore, the present writ petition has been filed by the petitioner with the following directions.
"i) to admit this writ petition and issue Rule Nisi;
ii) to issue a writ in the nature of Mandamus directing the respondents to pay compensation to the Petitioner for illegal and unjustified killing of Oinam Anand Meetei at such rate as the Hon'ble Court may deem just and fit in law and equity;
iii) to issue an appropriate writ or direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or any other independent investigating agency to effectively investigate and to prosecute the personnel of 28 Assam Rifles involved in the arrest, torture and killing Oinam Anand Meetei and his brother.
iv) to issue any other appropriate order or direction which the Hon'ble Court deems fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.
v) and the cost of litigation."
[3] The allegation made by the petitioner in the writ petition was denied by the respondents who had averred that the petitioner's son was killed in an encounter. Therefore, considering the disputed question of facts involved in the present case, this Court by an order dated 28.1.2011 directed that an inquiry be conducted by the learned District Judge, Manipur East regarding the cause of death of late Oinam Anand Meetei. The order dated 28.1.2011 reads as under:
"28.01.2011
Heard Mr.Paikhomba, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.Amarjit Naorem, learned CGSC appearing for the respondent Nos.1, 2 and 3 as well as Mr.Modhuchandra, learned counsel appearing for the respondent Nos.4-7.
This application has been filed by the petitioner for grant of compensation on the allegations that the petitioner's son, namely, Oinam Anand Meetei was picked up from his own house by some armed personnel in the intervening night of 22nd and 23rd October, 2009 at about 11.00 pm. Thereafter, on 02.11.2009 the petitioner was informed about the presence of the dead body of her son at Lilong Mortuary. Later on, the petitioner came to know that her son was killed in the intervening night of 31.10.2009 and 01.11.2009 by the 28th Assam Rifles. The respondents denied almost all the above allegations. Since a disputed question of fact is involved in this case relating to the death of the petitioner's son it would be proper to make an inquiry by the Learned District Judge, Manipur East regarding the cause of death of late Oinam Anand Meetei. Accordingly, the learned District Judge, Manipur East is directed to conduct an enquiry relating to the death of Oinam Anand Meetei.
The parties are directed to appear before the learned District Judge, Manipur East on 21.02.2011 and to file their respective pleadings.
The Learned District Judge, Manipur East is further directed to complete the enquiry within a period of 6 (six) months with effect from 21.02.2011 and submit the report.
Registry is directed to send a copy of this order to the Learned District Judge, Manipur East along with the copies of the writ petition and affidavit-in-opposition filed by the respondents.
Copy of this order be furnished to the learned counsel appearing for the respondent Nos.1, 2 and 3.
List this case after 6 (six) months."
[4] Consequently, the learned District Judge, Manipur East submitted Inquiry Report before the Registry of this Court on 28.1.2013. The relevant portion of the findings of the learned District Judge, Manipur East, in the Inquiry Report reads as under:
"30. From the above factual positions it is crystal clear that the intervening night of 31st October and 1st November, 2009 was a dark night and possibility of detecting movement of other person beyond 15ft. will be very difficult without using night-vision instruments. Further, it is also evident from the testimonies of R.Ws that the distance of exchange of firing between the Army personnel and the so called Underground group was at a distance of 25/30 meters to 150 meters. This fact is very important fact because PW No.4 who conducted the post mortem of the dead body of O.Anand Meitei clearly states that there were four bullet entry wounds and out of that 4 bullet entry wounds Injury Nos.1, 2 and 3 were caused from contact shot. PW No.4 also explained that by 'contact shot' means the muzzle of the gun is in contact with the skin of the person and the 'distance shot' means the distance of the firearm which is beyond 3 feet. PW No.4 has also stated that there is no possibility of making the external injury No.4 by a firearm from a distance range, it may be caused from by a firearm from contact or near contact shot. Thus, the pleas of the respondents for killing the petitioner's son namely, Oinam Anand Meetei in the exchange of firing between the army personnel of Assam Rifles and armed underground group at Andro Sanapat area in the intervening night of 31st October, 2009 and 1st November, 2009 is unbelievable since the external bullet injuries found in the body of the deceased Oinam Anand Meetei were from contact shot as well as near the contact shot. Further, the recovery of those huge arms, ammunition, explosive and wireless sets etc from the place of occurrence within a period of 10/15 minutes in a dark night by using a night-vision instrument is also very doubtful because the other R.Ws No.1, 2 and 4 are not corroborated to the statement of R.W No.3. R.W No.3 in his cross examination has deposed that other personnel of A.R led by Ld.Col Shamsher Singh and his team had participated in searching the place of occurrence and during the search, he personally picked up 6-10 fired cases, but the said Shamsher Singh or any army personnel who participated to the said search was not examined in order to support his contention. Since the respondents failed to establish the killing of the petitioner's son in the alleged exchange of firing in the intervening night of 31st October and 1st November, 2009 the presumption under section 111A of Indian Evidence Act will not arise.
In the light of the foregoing observations, I find the testimonies of PWs are more convincing and trustworthy than that of R.Ws. Therefore, I have decided that the son of the petitioners, namely, Oinam Anand @ Girani Meetei was arrested from his residence in the intervening night of 22nd and 23rd October, 2009 at about 11 p.m. by 28 Assam Rifles personnel and killed him by the personnel of 28 Assam Rifles while he was under their custody in the intervening night of 31st October and 1st November, 2009 at Andro Sanapat Thumkhong and the said Oinam Anand @ Girani was not killed in any encounter between the army personnel of 28 Assam Rifles and armed underground group in the intervening night of 31st October and 1st November, 2009 at Andro Sanapat Thumkhong."
[5] We have considered the inquiry report submitted by the learned District Judge, Manipur East. The findings arrived at by the learned District Judge is based on evidence and materials produced before the Court. The learned Court has also made an in-depth inquiry by examining witnesses from both sides and thereafter has come to the conclusive finding that the son of the petitioner namely Oinam Anand @ Girani Meetei was killed by the personnel of 28th Assam Rifles.
[6] We are of the opinion that the findings arrived at by the learned Court cannot be said to be without any basis. The reasons given by the learned District Judge do not seem to be unreasonable and hence, we see no reason to disagree or to give a different conclusion as the inquiry report is conclusive leaving no room for hesitation and disbelief.
In that view of the matter, we have no hesitation to conclude that the son of the petitioner namely, Oinam Anand @ Girani Meetei was killed by the personnel of 28th Assam Rifles in the intervening night of 31.10.2009 and 1.11.2009.
[7] Having arrived at this conclusion, the next question that arises for consideration by this Court is as to whether the petitioner shall be entitled to the compensation and if yes, what would be the quantum. It is well settled that as far as the compensation claimed by the victim's family is concerned where breach of fundamental right to life as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution is involved, it can be imposed on the State. In a number of cases, this Court as well as the Hon'ble Supreme Court have granted for compensation for the death occurring in such circumstances at the hands of the security force.
[8] Accordingly, considering the facts and circumstances of the case as referred to hereinabove, we are of the considered opinion that the ends of justice would be made if a compensation amount of Rs.5 lakhs is paid by the Assam Rifles to the petitioner within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order on account of the death of the petitioner's son at the hands of the Assam Rifles, which, we accordingly order.
It is also directed that the Assam Rifles Authorities shall deposit the said amount of Rs.5 Lakhs before the Registry of this Court within the aforesaid period and thereafter, the said amount will be deposited to the account of the petitioner.
The writ petition is allowed. However, no order as to costs.