SC orders victim families be furnished with probe reports
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 08, 2014: The Supreme Court of India today heard the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed jointly by Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families' Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) and Human Rights Alert (HRA) in connection with alleged 1528 cases of extrajudicial executions that were taken place in Manipur during the period from 1979 to 2012. Taking up the PIL, which was filed for the first time in October 2012, for hearing as item no.2 in court room no.11 today, a division bench of the apex court comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice M.Y.Iqbal has ordered all the parties concerned should be furnished with the copies of the reports submitted by the Manipur Governments on 27 inquiries conducted by the Government of Manipur in connection with extrajudicial killings.

During the hearing of the PIL, Attorney General Mukul Rothgi, who is representing the Union of India in the case, sought four weeks' time to submit its pleadings and also to furnish copies of the response from the Manipur Government to all the parties.

Thereafter, the Supreme Court directed all the parties to complete all the pleadings and listed the next hearing of the case on October 14, 2014. It may be noted here that after a Supreme Court appointed Commission headed by retired Justice Santosh Hedge found that all the six cases of referred to it by the Supreme Court for examination were not genuine encounters, the petitioners submitted another 27 cases where the judicial inquiries have come up with prima facie evidences which indicated that they were cases of fake encounter killings.

These 27 cases included Operation Blue Bird where not less than 13 villagers of Oinam in Senapati District were killed by the Assam Rifles in July-August, 1987 and �forced disappearance' of Loken and Lokendro after being abducted by the Army on 23.12.1980 ; C.Paul and C.Daniel after being abducted by the Army on 10.03.1982; Laishram Bijoy Kumar after being abducted by suspected Army on 05.06.1996, Yumlembam Sanamacha after being abducted by Indian Army on 14.02.1998 and Tayab Ali after being abducted by Assam rifle personnel on 25.07.1999.In the last case charge-sheet has been framed by CBI but prosecution sanction is still awaited from the side of Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

The cases related to killing of Kumari Yumnam Robita Devi and Angom Romajit Singh on 09.04.2002; Khumallambam Debeshowar Singh on 10.03.2004; Longjam Uttamkumar Singh (34) on 29.03.2008; Kabrambam Premjit Singh and Elangbam Kanto Singh on 24.04.2008; Mutum Herojit Singh (28) and Mutum Rajen (22) on 04.10.2008; Nongmaithem Michael Singh (32) on 04.11.2008; Ningombam Gopal Singh (39) on 23.12.2008; Salam Gurung alias Gingo (24) and Soubam Baocha alias Shachinta (24) on 28.12.2008; Loitongbam Satish alias Tomba Singh on 18.05.2009; Ngangbam Nouba alias Phulchand Singh (27) on 07.05.2009; Heirangoithong Massacre where 13 spectators of a volleyball match were killed and 31 injured when CRPF opened fire at a crowd after some extremists assaulted them on 14.03.1984; killing of Amina Devi killed in Naorem village by 127 Bn.

CRPF posted at Langjing in 1996; Muhindro Singh and Mayengbam Ibotombi Singh (Forest Officers) at Kakching Wabagai Road on 26.12.1996; killing of Major Saiza, Rukoshele, Tusovehu Chakesang, Kikheto Sema and Hidham Buddha Singh and injuring Thenucho (former Speaker of Nagaland State Assembly) at Kwakeithel by Manipur Police Commando on 29.08.1998; the 18 June, 2001 incident in which CRPF personnel fired at angry protestors in Imphal killing 14 persons, causing injury to death of Kumari Sanjita Devi of Jiribam after allegedly raped by 2 personnel of 12 Grenadier Regiment of Indian Army on 04.10.2003, killing of A.Bimol at Nongren Chinglak with 37 by Imphal East Police Commandos on 29.10.2004; killing of Linkhogen Balte, LS Thangopai Paite and Thenmithang, three tribal students by Manipur Police Commandos at KR Lane, Checkon on 25.10.2005 and killing of E.D.Rentulwan and injuring of his wife Thangulcha as a result of firing by 28 Assam Rifle on 16.11.2004 and that of Thangjam Manorama who was found brutally murdered after being arrested from her house by 17 Assam Rifle on 11.07.2004 were also included among the 27 cases resubmitted for fresh examination.

In the case of E.D.Rentulwan and his wife Thangulcha, the inquiry had been almost completed but on the admission of Assam rifles, it was dropped by the Government by issuing a notice under Section 7 of the Commission of Inquiry Act) whereas in the case of Thangjam Manorama, the report of the inquiry ordered by the Government of Manipur under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 has been kept suppressed following an appeal of the Assam Rifles authority.

Meanwhile, EEVFAM and HRA have welcomed the development and the order of the Supreme Court for for providing all judicial inquiry reports to the families of the victims of alleged fake encounters.

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