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CBI files charge-sheet in Tayeb Ali murder case

Iboyaima Laithangbam

Five Assam Rifles personnel listed as accused

“Tayeb Ali died during interrogation”
“Encounter was staged to save accused”

IMPHAL: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)on Saturday filed charge-sheet against 5 personnel of 17 Assam Rifles and the Assistant commandant of 2 IRB (India Reserve Battalion) for the abduction and murder of Tayeb Ali and destroying relevant evidence on July 25,1999.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal, issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against the Assistant Commandant. The Gauhati High Court’s Imphal Bench issued the directive and this is for the first time in Manipur that the CBI has filed the charge-sheet against the armed forces.

The accused are P.S.Banafar, the then Captain, Ashish Chand, the then Captain, Babulal Pradhan, the then Havildar, Ashok Kumar Singha, the then Havildar, Laxman Singh, the then Rifleman , all of 17 Assam Rifles and Abdul Latiff, the then station house officer (SHO) of Kangpokpi police station and now Assistant Commandant, 2 IRB.

On May 16, 2005, the High Court directed the CBI to make further investigation in the case.

The CBI charge-sheet says that on July 25, 1999 Tayeb Ali, who was working as a tailor cum salesman at a shop owned by Mohon Lal Jain had left his home for work. Eyewitness accounts said that on the way he was intercepted and whisked away by some personnel.

The jeep carrying him entered Kangla, the then battalion headquarters of 17 Assam Rifles.

The charge-sheet said that during interrogation he died. An encounter was staged so that the accused personnel could wriggle out. Records were fabricated apart from lodging a false FIR.

Abdul Laitf who was the then SHO did not make proper inquiry and destroyed vital evidence which would have been helpful in solving the crime.

During investigation by CBI it was established that Tayeb Ali got three bullet injuries fired from a distance of 3 to 5 ft.

The investigating officer, Raja Chatterjee, of CBI asserted that there was a prima facie case of abduction, murder, cheating and destruction of evidence.

Prosecution sanction for Abdul Latif was obtained whereas those of the Assam Rifles personnel are awaited. The National Human Rights Commission had already awarded Rs. 3 lakh as interim compensation to the widow, Mina Khatum.

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