Extrajudicial Killings:: 'SC holds back report'
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 11 2013: With the Supreme Court allegedly holding back the report of the three-member Inquiry Committee into six different cases of extrajudicial killings by security forces in the State which was submitted to the apex court on April 1 last, the petitioners have been left bewildered.

The discontentment over the attitude of the Supreme Court and the shattered hopes for justice to victims of extrajudicial killings in the State was expressed by the families of the victims during the 4th foundation day observance of Extra Judicial Execution Victims' Families Manipur (EEVFAM) which was held at Nupilal Complex here today.

A three-member Inquiry Committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Santosh Hegde was set up after an order was passed by the apex court following a public interest litigation(PIL) filed jointly by EEVFAM and Human Rights Alert (HRA) .

Speaking on the occasion, Babloo Loitongbam, Director of HRA, recalled that hearing on the PIL was conducted on July 2, 2012 and the report of the Inquiry Committee was submitted to the apex court on April 1 last.

And it was expected that the final verdict and justice to the victim families would be delivered by July 4.However, the Supreme Court has held back the report and the victim families have not even received the copy of the report so far.

Babloo further stated that since the Supreme Court has been holding back the report, apprehension of a hidden agenda has risen.

Out of the six cases which were selected by the Committee for probe from among 1528 case, four are related with Indian Army.

And so, since the Central Government will be hurt seriously by the revelation of the probe, it is believed that the report has been somehow made to stay with the Supreme Court.

Under such a condition, it is hard to expect anything worthwhile from the Supreme Court even though it had earlier assured that all the 1528 cases of extrajudicial killings in Manipur would be investigated by a Special Investigation Team.

Babloo went on to state that justice can be brought to the victims of extrajudicial killings in the State if the Supreme Court does not take the matter lightly and consider it as important as that of the Gujarat case.

Kh Lata, mother of late Kh Oshonjit, whose case was among the six taken up by the Supreme Court appointed Committee for probe, informed that the report of the six cases of extrajudicial killings which were taken up the Committee was submitted to the Supreme Court on April 1 last.

However, the dealing and procedure of the Supreme Court seems to slow down all of a sudden.

Renu Takhellambam, President of EEVFAM; family members of the victims of extrajudicial killings and members of UCM, AMUCO, FREINDS and other CSOs were also present on the occasion.

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