Mar 5 incident: Judicial Inquiry Comm. period extended to July 16

Briefing media persons at Police Conference hall Chumukedima, chairman of the Commission, Justice (retd) B.D. Agarwal said the One-Many Inquiry panel headed by Veprasa Nyekha retired District & Sessions Judge was enlarged to a two-member Commission by the state government after looking at the magnitude and gravity of the situation. 

As per the notification by state government dated June 10, he said the Judicial Inquiry Commission was asked to ascertain the causes and circumstances leading to the incident of vandalism, groups of person encouraged in committing the crime, lapses of dereliction of duty on part of government officials, public authorities etc of March 5 incident.

Justice Agarwal disclosed that despite the Commission publicly inviting written statements from individuals, organizations, students bodies, NGOs, family members of the victims to assist it over the incident which took place at Central Jail, Dimapur on March 5, it has received only three written statements from Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), S D Jain girls College Dimapur and Shoipu Village Union Dimapur.

He also said the Commission anxiously awaited the written statements from the family members of the victims. However, despite reminders the family members, have so far failed to follow up the directives., he said.

Justice Agarwal pointed out that during the process of investigation, if the enquiry team found anyone involved in the incident, those would be liable for summons by the Court as per section 8. 

In case of non-compliance, those summoned would be liable for attracting warrant of arrest, he said. 

He also mentioned that till date no students union/federation have come forward with their statements.

The enquiry team appealed all the NGOs/ organizations to help the Commission to elaborate more on the March 5 incident.

The team also disclosed that personal postal letters sent to the victims’ family members were returned unopened, while some addressees had moved to different places.

The status of the inquiry and its final findings will be submitted to the state government on July 21.

It may be mentioned that the JIC had on Monday visited Central Jail, Dimapur and interacted with the Jail officials. The team later visited the Clock Tower junction where the dead body of the accused was tied to the railings.