Army orders probe into fake encounter, protests on

Tinsukia, May 9 (UNI) The Army today ordered an 'impartial inquiry' into the killing of Budheswar Moran by troops of the 6 J&K Light Infantry on May 6, even as protesting villagers continued to block National Highways 37 and 38.

Categorically stating that there were lapses, GOC of the 2nd Mountain Division Lt Gen N C Mawra said, ''an impartial inquiry has been ordered into the incident to identify the lapses.'' Expressing his solidarity to the victim's family, the GOC said exemplary punishment would be given to the guilty officials.

''The Army and police are working together to address the grievances of the commoners,'' he added.

Meanwhile, Upper Asom Commissioner Hemanta Narzary, who had been instructed by the Chief Minister to conduct an inquiry into the incident, said the government was looking into the incident.

Refusing to comment on the progress of the inquiry, Mr Narzary said the state government was mulling to rehabilitate the victim's family.

As part of the inquiry, the commissioner will conduct hearings at Doomdooma later today.

Meanwhile, agitating villagers continued to block the National Highways at various places in Tinsukia district for the fourth consecutive day today.

Over 6,000 protesters yesterday blocked the highway at Doomdooma, Kakopathar and Tipok, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Moran's wife, Sangita declined to take food since Sunday as she joined the protesters with her three children, including a three-month infant.

The agitators also demanded compensation to the family of the victim, besides a judicial probe into the incident.

A father of three, Moran was a chowkidar at the Manipur Tea Estate of Doomdooma. He had also undergone a vocational training given by the Army under its 'Operation Sadbhavana', they said.

A spokesperson of the 6 J&K Rifles was earlier quoted as saying that the slain person was a 'dreaded ULFA cadre'.

The Army also claimed to have recovered arms from Moran's possession.

Hours after the encounter, the 'commander' of the ULFA's 'C Company' Jiten Dutta had told the media that Moran was in no way associated with the outfit.

Significantly, the Dibrugarh district administration had ordered an inquiry after people protested the killing of one Moni Gogoi by the Army at Balijan in Nahorkotia of Dibrugarh in January last.

The Army claimed that Gogoi was a militant.

In a recent incident, two Army officers were found guilty of killing a villager, Ajit Mahanta, of Kakopathar in Tinsukia district, on February 8 last year. The incident had created an uproar in upper Asom.

UNI