IMPHAL, May 20: Despite the utterances of the state Home Minister Gaikhangam on police reforms, an Officer-in-charge (OC) of a police station refused to file an FIR on alleged physical assault and intimidation. But the FIR was ultimately registered when the complainant moved the court.
One Kasphiri Dehi, a resident of Punanamai village, Mao had to file complaint after complaint against the assault on his person by a group of villagers of Rekhumai village led by Mai Pukho and Paukhu Jonah on April 26.
According to a complaint filed on May 9, K Dehi had filed a written complaint on April 26 with the Senapati Police Station regarding the assault; however he was asked to come the next day to get the acknowledgement receipt of the complaint, which was denied the next day too.
He filed another written complaint the same day, which was also not entertained.
Even as severe physical intimidation continued, he filed another complaint with the Mao PS on the same day to lodge an FIR against the accused and requesting protection against the physical intimidation and assault, however Mao PS informed him to take his case to the Senapati PS, as the jurisdiction of the case falls with the latter.
When he readdressed the complaint to the SDPO Senapati, the police officer admitted helplessness due to the continued ignorance and refusal of the Senapati OC to take action.
The complaint stated that under such prolonged harassment and denial of justice, he appealed to the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Senapati for legal remedies and sought protection from the continued intimidation.
The CJM court passed an order on May 8 saying that the life of the complainant is indeed in danger after being assaulted by the accused persons and there is need for proper investigation in the case and as such the matter is put before the concerned police station for necessary action.
The order had directed the OC, Senapati to register an FIR case against the accused persons by conducting a proper investigation and to arrest such culprits involved in the case and and to submit a report on or before May 22.
The complaint has further said that such harassment and denial of justice displayed by the OC Senapati will encourage and promote lawlessness in the district.
Meanwhile, K Dehi filed another complaint on May 17 against criminal intimidation from the OC, Senapati.
He had said in his complaint that the OC had intimidated him on May 11 for lodging the complaint against him on May 9 and further threatened him saying a criminal case will be filed against him.
Further according to his complaint, Dehi was summoned by the OC alongwith the witnesses to appear at the Senapati PS on May 16 for recording their statements.
However, Dehi was again intimidated before and after taking their statements by the OC.
The OC had intimidated him that he will be arrested soon after recording statements of some witnesses.
In the meantime, Jonah, one of the main accused in Dehi’s complaint had filed a case with the CJM, Senapati accusing Dehi alongwith three individuals of intimidating him on May 10 after taking his signature in a blank sheet.