Probe into Manipur ambush on AR convoy will be handed over to NIA
The security establishment in New Delhi was certainly upset by the ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur in Manipur that claimed seven personnel including the lives of commanding officer and his wife and nine-year-old son.
Many including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Manipur CM N Biren Singh and others condemned the attack as a “cowardly” act.
The targeting of women and children specially left the two insurgent groups PLA Manipur and the little known Manipur Naga People’s Front embarrassed. The PLA also issued a statement saying they were not aware that commandant's wife and son were also traveling.
On Thursday, amid growing concerns over the attack, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singhsaid that the probe into the case would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Addressing an annual award presentation ceremony of the Manipur State Award for Literature-2020, the Chief Minister said that the case would be handed over to the NIA to bring out "details" and identity of the perpetrators of the attack.
Colonel Viplav Tripathi, his wife and 9-year-old son and four jawans were killed when the convoy was attacked by militants at Behiang in Churachandpur district of Manipur last Saturday,Nov 13.
Six jawans had sustained injuries.
"This ambush was uncalled for at a time when the peace talks with the Naga groups is at an advanced stage and the centre has shown willingness to bring in peace and development in the entire northeast," a source said.
Sources say the security agencies are probing various angles in the case and suspect that
the PLA was assisted by some other groups which have operational nexus.
“Strongly condemn the attack on the Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur. I pay homage to those soldiers and family members who have been martyred today. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten," the Prime Minister had tweeted.
Security forces also later recovered a large cache of powerful IEDs fitted into mobile handsetsfrom the spot.In October the killing of popular Zeliangrong Naga leader Athuan Abonmai near Pallong village under Tamei sub-division in Tamenglong district of Manipur was also handed over tothe NIA.
Athuan Abonmai, former president of Zeliangrong Baudi was killed on September 22.
Section 16/17 and 20 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 were also added in the case of Abonmai murder case as the accused persons and their associates were allegedlyraising funds for terror activities and disturbing the peace and tranquility.
Manipur goes to the polls in February-March next year along with UP,Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand.
The BJP-led coalition regime is in power in the state since 2017.
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New Delhi:
Contrary to media reports, Pakistan's 'new law' has hardly anything fresh to offer and Islamabad "continues to deny unimpeded and unhindered" consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav.
"We have seen reports of Pakistan enacting into law the earlier ordinance that was ostensibly enacted to bring into effect the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. Nothing could have been further from the truth," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said here on Thursday in response to media queries.
"As stated earlier, the ordinance did not create the machinery for an effective review and reconsideration of Shri Jadhav’s case as mandated by the judgement of the ICJ," the MEA spokesman said.
He further said, "The new Law simply codifies the shortcomings of the previous ordinance".
"Pakistan continues to deny unimpeded and unhindered consular access to Shri Jadhav and has
failed to create an atmosphere in which a fair trial can be conducted. India has repeatedly called upon
Pakistan to abide by the letter and spirit of the ICJ judgement," Mr Bagchi said.
The International Court of Justice (Review and Re-consideration) Bill, 2020, was moved by
Law Minister Farogh Nasim and was was passed with a majority vote during the Joint Sitting
of Parliament.
Kulbhushan Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April
2017 on charge of espionage. The allegation was outright rejected by India.
An impression was given to a section of media that new law would help Jadhav get consular access
and challenge the verdict of the military court.
The ICJ had also ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan was in breach of its international obligations because
of the failure to provide consular access to Mr Jadhav.
Pakistan has been constantly playing hide and seek kind of games on Jadhav and has always
tried to mislead the international community.
Even when Jadhav's mother and wife were allowed to meet him in Pakistani jail, there were
double standards and ill-treatment meted to the two.
On December 28, 2017, the then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swara (now deceased) in a fiery
statement had said: "Pakistan had clearly assured us that media will not be allowed anywhere near
Jadhav's mother or wife. But the Pakistani media not only were given clear access to the venue
of the meeting, they also hounded the two women and asked insensitive questions".
The Pakistan Foreign Office claimed a "metallic substance" was found in the shoes of the wife of
Jadhav.
Late Swaraj had said that it is an absurdity beyond any measure. "Jadhav's wife boarded two flights
before she reached the meeting venue. How can that be possible when she took a flight to Dubai first
and then went to Pakistan. If no alarms were raised then, how did the Pakistan government discover
something in the shoe?"
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