Imphal, March 17: Suspended police sub-inspector K. Punshiba today deposed before the Agrawal Commission and claimed that there was no fake encounter in Imphal city on July 23.

He said the charges that former militant Ch. Sanjit and passerby Rabina Devi were killed in a fake encounter by commandos were designs by vested interests to project the police commandos in a bad light.

“There is neither any question of a fake encounter nor custody killing of any person, as alleged. Rather, it is submitted that it (the charge) is purely a design drawn up by some group of misguided persons together with certain unlawful organisations to project the police commandos in a bad light and to demoralise the personnel involved in the fight against the insurgency network,” the 28-year-old sub-inspector said in his affidavit submitted to the commission today.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who is also the home minister, suspended seven police commandos after people erupted in anger against the killing of Rabina Devi and Sanjit.

All the seven suspended personnel submitted their affidavits before the commission today.

The nine-page affidavit filed by the sub-inspector said two police personnel on duty on that day met a suspect on Bir Tikendrajit Road.

When the personnel tried to frisk, the suspect pushed the two personnel aside and fled after firing a few rounds. The personnel also fired some rounds in the air while chasing the suspect.

Punshiba said he heard gunshots while he was patrolling the area and later found Sanjit dead inside Maimu pharmacy.

“I also saw one 9mm pistol clutched in the right hand of the deceased over his belly,” he said.

The commission has fixed the next hearing on March 29.

Gonmei Mangal, one of the five injured in the incident, also deposed before the commission today, but said he did not know who fired the shots.

He prayed for more financial assistance for treatment of his injury. He has received Rs 50,000 from the government, he said.