Imphal, Oct. 29: The Assam Rifles has requested the Privilege Committee of the Manipur Assembly to spare it the embarrassment of having to send an officer to depose before a civilian panel for misbehaving with an elected people’s representative.

The inspector-general (south) of the paramilitary force, Maj. Gen. B.K. Chengapa, said in a letter to deputy Speaker Th. Shyamkumar Singh last week that a court of inquiry had already held Maj. Nikhil Thakkar guilty of “inappropriate behaviour” and recommended adequate punishment.

Maj. Thakkar, the commander of the Sagang post of the 7th Assam Rifles, invited trouble by stopping minister Pheiroijam Parijat Singh’s convoy in Bishnupur district in July.

The minister complained to the Privilege Committee that the army officer, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, not only stopped the convoy without reason but also abused him.

When the issue came up for discussion in the Assembly last month, legislators cut across party lines and demanded action against the Assam Rifles officer.

A source in the Assembly secretariat confirmed that Shyamkumar Singh, who heads the Privilege Committee, received a letter from the Assam Rifles inspector-general. Gen. Chengapa requested that Maj. Thakkar be excused from making an appearance before the panel by citing the steps taken on the basis of the in-house inquiry.

“The inquiry has been completed and the director-general of the Assam Rifles has approved the proposal for punishment to Maj. Thakkar. The officer has been administered reproof, which will be mentioned in his dossier. This will have a negative impact on the officer’s career,” the inspector-general was quoted as saying in the letter.

Gen. Chengapa also mentioned that the Assam Rifles headquarters had asked all its officers to show respect to elected representatives of the people.

The Privilege Committee has yet to take a decision on the Assam Rifles’ request.

“We have not discussed it. The Privilege Committee will follow the normal course of investigation,” Shyamkumar Singh said.

He probably meant that the committee would summon the Assam Rifles officer, if necessary, during the course of the investigation despite Gen. Chengapa’s request.

The next meeting of the panel is expected to discuss the report on the action initiated by the Assam Rifles against the officer and the request not to summon him. Bishnupur superintendent of police K. Jayenta Singh has already been interrogated.