As many as 31 murder cases, which had remained pending for the past 10-30 years, were found at Thoubal Police Station in Thoubal district, during a surprise visit by Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) chairperson UB Saha on Friday.
Two murder cases dating back to as far as 1993 were among the pending cases. MHRC has taken up a suo moto in connection with the pending cases.
MHRC stated that a team led by chairperson UB Saha visited three old age homes located at Imphal West and Thoubal district for taking stock of the conditions of the senior citizens staying in those old age homes. The commission made a surprise visit to the Women Police Station, Thoubal as well.
At thoubal Police Station, 10-30 year-old 31 murder cases were found pending investigation. Other pending cases were also found during the visit.
MHRC stated that as per the preamble of the Constitution, every citizen has the right to get justice. Even the Apex Court also in some cases held that delay of investigation clearly violates the constitutional right, which also guarantees investigation and trial as insisted under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
Due to the delay of the investigation, both the family of the victim and the accused person are denied the fair trial as well as the justice. It is also settled by this time that delay of investigation is nothing but denial of justice which a citizen is entitled to from the political government and its administrative authority including Police administration.
“It is not clear to us why the investigation of a case lodged by a citizen for murder of his/her dearest/nearest ones in the year 1993 is still pending and for whose fault,” it stated.
UB Saha said, if the statement under 161 Cr.PC were not recorded at the relevant time, then obviously the witnesses will not be in a position to make the statement after two decades. If the accused was a minor at that time or within the age group of about 30 years, he will become senior citizen by this time, and the accused may have also settled his life by way of marriage and having children, he said.
If it is ultimately found that the accused persons in the matter are convicted by the trial court, then what will be the position of his family member, and who will compensate the accused if he is acquitted by the trial court for the sufferings endured in their lives without getting an opportunity for facing trial, he mentioned.
Following the suo moto case, MHRC also issued notices, returnable on May 7, to SP Thoubal for submitting the latest status reports considering the reasons for delay of the investigation of the 30 FIRs relating to murder cases. The OC Thoubal Police Station was also issued a notice to appear along with the case diary for the first 10 cases since 1993.
It was also directed that the SP Thoubal, whose office is nearby the Thoubal Police Station, is to appear in person on the next date without any fail as it appears prima facie that he did not discharge his duties as required.
The commission further recommended DGP, Manipur to ask the concerned authority not only the SP Thoubal District but in other district as well to complete the investigation of murder cases and the POSCO cases within a reasonable time, so that the family of the victims and the accused persons may get the proper justice and far trial as they deserve, in accordance with law.
