A pending suo-moto case taken up by Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC), based on a news report published by the Imphal Free Press in 2020 with the heading, ‘Co-accused in Washima murder found hanging, family suspects foul play, was finally closed.
In a case of custodial death, one under trial prisoner, Md Sheik Warish ,25, of Lilong Dam, Thoubal district was found dead by hanging inside the latrine of Sector No.7 of Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa around 4 am on February 20, 2020. The matter has been pending since then.
The District Magistrate, Imphal East district appointed additional district Magistrate, Imphal East Shamim Ahmad Shah as enquiry authority.
The case was never listed after February 13, 2020 and before November 27, 2023. On November 27 of this year, with the request of the law officer of the commission to examine the complaint petition and inform the commission, as to whether anything remains to be decided by the commission.
Accordingly, the enquiry was done on the basis of the order of the government for the death of the aforesaid under trial prisoner on November 29.
The Commission asked the District Magistrate, Imphal East as well as the Commissioner (Home), Government of Manipur to submit the enquiry report and latest status report, if any conducted by the District Magistrate, Imphal East before the commission on or before December 4.
The enquiry report submitted by the additional district magistrate, Imphal East district as the enquiry officer is placed before the commission by the joint secretary (Home), government of Manipur.
The commission has gone through the inquiry report and the statement made therein; the commission satisfied so far as enquiry is concerned.
It also appears that compensation of Rs 5,00,000 has been paid to the next of kin of the under-trial deceased on July 7, 2023, the Commission observed.
It may be mentioned that Washima daughter of Md Jamanuddin Khullapam of Yairipok Tulihal Mayai Leikai, a student of BA 2nd Semester of MB College Imphal was found dead in a suspicious manner near Irong Cheisaba Konjengbung Leikai Lampak, on January 28, 2020.
The accused Md Shiekh Warish was arrested on January 31, 2020, he was in judicial custody for fifteen days, but found dead by hanging inside the jail.
