Semen found on Manorama's clothes

Forensic tests have detected stains of human semen on Manorama Devi's clothes who was allegedly executed by Assam Rifles after she was picked by them on July 11.

The forensic tests have detected stains of human semen on the clothes of Thangjam Manorama Devi who had been picked up on July 10 by Assam Rifles personnel in Manipur and found dead the next day at Ngariyan near Imphal.

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This was detected during a forensic test of 30-year-old Manorama Devi's clothes by Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Kolkata which submitted a report before an Inquiry Commission headed by retired judge C Upendra on Wednesday, commission sources said on Thursday.

The sources said blood stains, also detected on the under garments of the deceased woman, were found to be of O-type.

The report was forwarded to the additional director of Forensic Science Laboratory.

Meanwhile, none of the four Assam Rifles witnesses had so far appeared before the panel despite official summon and intimation, the sources said. The Assam Rifles authorities had earlier cited security reasons for their inability to appear before the panel and wanted it to examine the witnesses in camera at the AR office at Kangla.

Quoting intelligence report, the Assam Rifles counsel reiterated that a cash award of Rs one lakh for the jawan witnesses and Rs five lakh for the AR commandant had been announced by the banned People's Liberation Army.

The sources said the commission had asked the witnesses to appear before it today, failing which the panel was likely to issue arrest warrants against them.

The death of Manorama Devi sparked widespread agitation in Manipur demanding withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Forces Act from the state.