Investigation into 11 February lathi charge

SNS, Gangtok October 2013: Former Uttar Pradesh IPS, Mr I C Dwivedi, an appointee of the Supreme Court, is said to have completed his investigation into 11 February’s incident of lathi charge on Sikkim Krantikari Morcha supporters. 

He held a face-to-face hearing with the petitioners (SKM functionaries) and respondents, comprising senior Sikkim Police officials and the East district administration at the state’s circuit house yesterday. He is currently in Sikkim for the third and final leg of his investigation. IGP (law & order), Akshay Sachdeva, DIG, MS Tuli, SP (East), Manoj Tiwari and East District Collector, AK Singh attended the hearing as respondents. 

The hearing lasted for around five hours in course of which Mr Dwivedi was reported to have held a joint sitting as well as separate discussion involving both the parties concerned. 

In August, the Supreme Court had appointed Mr Dwivedi to head the probe. SKM functionary, Kala Rai and others had petitioned to the Apex Court on the lathi charge allegedly ordered by the IGP (Law and Order), Mr Akshay Sachdeva, injuring several SKM supporters who were celebrating their head office’s inauguration. They were allegedly cane-charged on charges of throwing projectiles on the Chief Minister, Mr Pawan Chamling’s convoy, passing through the highway on 11 February. 

Mr Sachdeva is understood to have given explanations for all the nine allegations he was charged with regarding the incident of lathi charge. It is also learnt that the petitioners’ counsels had presented their points before Mr Dwivedi. 

Today’s hearing was the final one and no appeals would be entertained as the report would be prepared from 11 October, sources informed. 

Mr Dwivedi had been assisted by the state police officials during his previous visits in reconstructing the scene during the lathi charge that day both within and outside the SKM office. 

He had also called on the chief secretary during his preliminary enquiry that had been conducted in coordination with the state home department. The next hearing on the case would be held on 22 October, it is learnt.