Extra-judicial Killings::: Manipur cases worser than that of Gujarat: Mukul
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 08 2013: "The fake encounters in Manipur are far more worst than the 26 such cases reported from 2003 to 2006 in Gujarat" said a shocked advocate Mukul Sinha, who is the petitioners' counsel in the hearing of Supreme Court-appointed independent Inquiry Commission into the six randomly selected alleged extrajudicial killings in Manipur.

Addressing a press conference at the office of Human Rights Alert (HRA) at Kwakeithel Thiyam Leikai today, Advovate Mukul Sinha said that Gujarat police killed 26 innocent civilians in fake encounters during 2003 and 2006 in the name of counter insurgency.

These incidents caused consternation in the minds of the minority people of Gujarat.

But the fake encounters in Manipur are even worst as they have created a reign of terror among the people living here.

He observed that taking help of Constitutional machineries is very important to defend the people from such threats and rights violation.

"Me and my team sought help of legal machineries in the fake encounter cases in Gujarat.

Following the investigation of the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), many police personnel who were involved in the fake encounters were punished accordingly.

Today peace and normalcy has returned in Gujarat," Mukul added.

While observing that even if various fake encounter cases in Manipur have originated from the insurgency problem, Mukul, however, noted that the action of the Manipur Police Commandos is like they are law unto themselves and they do not care for human lives.

He recalled that during the hearing conducted at Classic Hotel from March 3, one respondent witness Bronson who is a Havildar spoke as if he has the right to carry out an operation without informing any superior officer.

In Manipur, the term "reliable source" is often used by security forces during encounters as a "magic" word or a license for the police to kill people, he added.

Expressing his view on the Supreme Court appointed Inquiry Commission, Mukul maintained that it is an honest Commission which carries out its proceedings sincerely.

"I believe the Commission will leave no stone unturned in bringing out the truth behind fake encounter cases being discussed", he expressed optimism, and added that he has firm belief that most of the encounter cases in Manipur have been carried out in cold-blood.

Mukul further informed that he was shocked when a woman police officer in the rank of SP said that she does not have any idea of the term 'The Notified Area' and changes her statement again and again, thus showing her carelessness.

"Not surprisingly, the inquest reports were also found to have been altered many times in some of the case while many other inquest reports were found inconclusive.

All these showed the real nature of Manipur Police Commandos and their standard in maintaining proper documentation", he said.

Mukul assured that he would put in his best effort towards bringing out the truth behind the fake encounter cases and ensure justice to the victims' families.

Nirjari, wife of Advocate Mukul Sinha, Babloo Loitongbam of Human Rights Alert and Advocate Rakesh Meihoubam were also present during the press conference.

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