Imphal, Aug. 8: The signatures of Manipuri custody death victim Thangjam Manorama on the arrest and seizure memos issued by the Assam Rifles do not match, leading her family to accuse the paramilitary force of forgery.

Manorama, whose death on July 11 was the trigger for the continuing agitation against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, signed the arrest memo before being taken away from her home at Bamon Kampu in Imphal East district.

The signature on the seizure memo that was submitted to Irilbung police station, however, appears to be different.

The Telegraph has copies of both the memos.

Manorama’s family said the Assam Rifles “forged” her signature on the seizure memo, which states that a Kenwood wireless set and a Chinese hand grenade were seized from her by naib-subedar Digambar Dutt, havildar Suresh Kumar and rifleman T. Lotha.

The arrest memo that was given to the family, however, refers to Manorama only as a suspected member of the outlawed People’s Liberation Army and admits that no incriminating evidence was found during a search of the house.

A havildar named Suresh Kumar signed the arrest memo on the Assam Rifles’ behalf, while two riflemen — T. Lotha and Ajit Singh — did so as witnesses.

Imphal East superintendent of police Kh. Chandramani Singh declined to comment on the new controversy. “I am yet to see the papers,” he said.

Attempts to contact Assam Rifles officials at their Kangla Fort base were rebuffed by the telephone operator. “There is nobody here,” he said.

The Assam Rifles’ 17th battalion admitted to “lapses” after an in-house probe, but said the court of inquiry could wrap up proceedings only after depositions by some civilian witnesses.

The parallel judicial inquiry instituted by the Manipur government has not been completed either.