SC lists 'extra-judicial killings' for hearing
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 02 2015: The Supreme Court will hear the cases of alleged extra-judicial killings and also the petition for repealing Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act on Wednesday and Thursday.

Babloo Loitongbam, executive director of Human Rights Alert, one of the petitioners against the alleged fake encounter killing cases and former medical director Th.Suresh, who filed the petition seeking repeal of the "black law" are now in Delhi for the upcoming hearings.

Human Rights Alert and Extra-judicial Execution Victim Families Association, Manipur jointly filed the petition seeking constitution of a Special Investigation Team for probing 1528 cases of alleged fake encounter killings in Manipur.

The hearing comes at a time when people of Manipur are renewing the demand for repeal of AFSPA and also release of human rights crusader Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has completed 15 years of fast.

Sharmila has been demanding repeal of the armed forces act, holding it responsible for growing violation of human rights by the members of the armed forces.

The Supreme Court has been hearing both the petitions by clubbing together.

The last hearing took place on October 10.So far the apex court had held 15 hearings on the two cases.

"It is now three years.

I am expecting some sort of a temporary order in my case in the hearing.

The Supreme Court Judges told my lawyers that the case would be taken up definitely in the next hearing," Suresh said.

Justice Madan B.Lokur and Justice Uday U.Lalit will hear the two cases, he said.

Santosh Hedge Commission, which was constituted by the Supreme Court to probe six of the 1528 cases listed in the petition, had concluded that all the six cases involving death of seven persons were all fake encounter killings.

The commission held a series of hearings both in Imphal and New Delhi and submitted its report to the Supreme Court on April 4, 2013, saying that the six cases were fake encounter killings.

Suresh said senior advocate Jayant Bhushan and his team are representing him since the last hearing without taking any fee.

Suresh said the lawyer told him that he is taking the case without any fee as the case is meant for delivering justice to the people of Manipur.

Jayant is the son of well known lawyer Shanti Bhushan and the legal family has a history of fighting for human rights and other related issues, Suresh said.

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