Extrajudicial killings::::Objection raised to mode of inquiry
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, February 21 2013:
Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the UN (CSCHR) has expressed dissatisfaction on Thursday over the mode of functioning and strategies of the independent Inquiry Commission which is to probe six extrajudicial killings in Manipur.
The Inquiry Commission instituted according to a directive by the Supreme Court is to probe six different extrajudicial killings involving seven individuals, including a child.
The commission headed by Supreme Court Justice N Santosh Hegde, former Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh and retired DGP of Karnaka Police, Ajay Kumar Singh was established under the directive of the apex court on January 4, 2013 .
"The inquiry Commission's approach and procedures are unsatisfactory," Dr Laifungbam Debabrata, convenor, CSCHR told the media at Manipur Press Club here.
Debabrata insisted that the commission lacks transparency that will create a lot of inconveniences to the families of the victims and its modus operandi is unrealistic in delivering justice.
The commission was set up following a recent petition filed by Extrajudicial Execution Victims' Families Association of Manipur (EEVFAM) which pleaded for an independent probe into more than 1500 cases of extrajudicial killings in Manipur.
He said the commission is expected to arrive in Imphal on March 1, but the visit might be fruitless as the aggrieved families, witnesses and other interested parties are not likely to get a chance to meet with it.
Debabarta added, "Such situation is likely as the commission has no its office here and at the same time the plan and schedule of the visit has not yet been specified" .
CSCHR in a statement further said that the Inquiry Commission must have an office at Imphal with the full cooperation and essential support, including secretarial and financial assistance extended by the Central and Manipur Government.
It also demanded that the last date for receipt of information by the commission regarding the facts and circumstances relating to the killing of the aforesaid seven persons to be extended till February 28, 2013 to lend more accountability and inclusivity to the process.
Apart from printed/written documents, the commission should allow the submission and inclusion of audio, video, photographs, object/material evidences including fact-finding visits to the alleged encounter sites in order to establish the true facts and circumstances of the killing of the seven persons in Manipur during 2009 for effective and speedy delivery of justice, it urged.