Army probe into Manorama death hits dead-end

The Army probe into the alleged rape and killing of Thanjam Manorama Devi, which led to protests across Manipur, hit a dead-end after an Imphal court rejected an application for production of the DNA profile of semen found on her clothes.

‘‘Our investigations will not be complete without matching DNA samples of 23 Assam Rifles personnel and the semen traces allegedly found on the underclothes of the dead woman,’’ Army sources said here.

‘‘We had put our court of inquiry into the fast track mode and wanted to finish the probe in the shortest time to see if any Army personnel were guilty,’’ the sources said.

Imphal’s Chief Judicial Magistrate has rejected an application to direct police to produce DNA profile of semen found on the underclothes that Manorama was wearing at the time of her alleged custodial death.