IMPHAL, May 5 � The petition filed against the Union of India and others including the present Army Vice Chief Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh Suhag, in connection with the alleged extra-judicial killing of three Manipuris in March 2010, has been withdrawn from the High Court of Manipur on the ground of jurisdiction.
A petition was filed in connection with the abduction of one Phijam Naobi along with two others RK Roshan and Th Prem from Char Mile area of Dimapur town on March 10, 2010 and subsequent recovery of their bullet-ridden bodies from Lakhijan area under Bokajan police station in Karbi Anglong district on March 17.
The six respondents in the case are Defence Ministry, Manipur Government, Nagaland Government, Indian Army headquarters, the then GOC 3 Corp Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, the then Officer Commanding Colonel Govinda Shreekumar, Intelligence Unit 3 Corp Eastern Command.
The case was withdrawn on the ground of jurisdiction, according to Senior Advocate Khaidem Mani Singh, the counsel of the petitioner Phijam Manikumar. The jurisdiction of the case falls under Nagaland and Assam as the three individuals were killed near Dimapur and their bodies were found in Assam.
Mani observed that the operational area of the 3 Corp includes Manipur. However, they decided to withdraw the case. Now the petitioner can go to an appropriate court.
The case was listed before the division bench of acting Chief Justice Laxmi Kant Mohapatra and Justice N Kotiswar of High Court of Manipur.
The Central Government standing counsel of Manipur High Court, advocate Amarjit Naorem told the media that the case was withdrawn as it could not convince the court.
Narrating the facts of the case, Amarjit said the abduction of the three took place in the intervening night of March 13 and 14, 2010 whereas the affidavit said it happened on March 10, 2010. He further clarified that Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag was posted in Delhi during those days. He came to Dimapur as 3 Corp GOC only on April 16, 2011 about a year later, he added.
