SC May Form SIT to Probe 84 Fake Encounter Cases in Manipur

November 10: The Supreme Court might issue a directive to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the concerned regarding the 84 alleged fake encounter cases in Manipur, said president of Extrajudicial Execution Victims Family Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) Renu Takhelambam.

Briefing media persons on Monday at the office of Human Rights Alert (HRA) Kwakeithel, Renu said that the Social Justice Bench headed by Justice U Lalit and Justice Madan Lukar, on October 4 instructed all the parties concerned to submit their last report by October 29 where EEVFAM prayed to the Court to take up 84 alleged fake encounter cases and form a SIT to further investigate the cases.

Among the 1528 alleged fake encounter cases filed by HRA and EEVFAM in 2012, the selected 84 cases include six of the random instances selected by the Supreme Court where it was found to be fake encounters, cases declared by the High Court as fake encounters, cases where the National Human Rights Commission had instructed the Manipur State Government to give compensation to the families of the victims and those cases declared as fake encounters by the Judicial Inquiry Commission set up by the State Government, she said.

She added that the prayer of EEVFAM included that the remaining 1484 alleged fake encounter cases be examined by a Retd District Judge and if there is any prima facie indication that those cases are fake encounters, a retired Supreme Court Judge should start an enquiry commission for further investigation.

Renu further said that the next hearing of the case is on November 19 and added that there is high expectation from the petitioners that Social Justice Bench will do a just work. It may be mentioned here that the 1528 alleged fake encounter cases filed by HRA and EEVFAM include extra judicial killings by police personnel and security forces from 1979 to 2012.