EEVFAM, HRA raise doubts against CBI/SIT
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 11 2020: Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association Manipur (EEVFAM), Human Right Alert (HRA) and the families of the victims of extrajudicial killing, have raised suspicion against the SIT constituted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of trying to shield and protect the paramilitary forces involved in different cases of alleged fake encounters/extra judicial killings in Manipur.

The allegation from the organisations and the families came right after the order passed by CJM Imphal East returning back the closer report of the CBI/ SIT and directing further inquiry into the Pangei Bazaar 2004 firing case.

It may be mentioned that the a judicial inquiry was conducted by District and Session Court in 2012 into the case, as per the direction of the Guwahati High Court Imphal Branch and the subsequent inquiry report had stated that CRPF was responsible for the death of Asem Romajit and Yumnam Robita.

Speaking to media persons at HRA office today afternoon, EEVFAM president Renu Takhellambam welcomed the CJM Imphal East order and reminded that CBI was tasked by the Supreme Court to constitute an SIT to investigate alleged fake encounters/extra judicial killings and deliver justice to the families of the victims.

Till date, CBI/SIT has submitted charge sheets for 13 different fake encounter cases/extra judicial killings as well as 7 closer reports/final reports after completing the investigation of the case concerned Stating that all seven closer reports/final reports which were submitted before different Courts, are related to fake encounter/extra judicial killings involving paramilitary forces, Renu said that such closer report/ final reports raised suspicion among the family members of the victims, EEVFAM and HRA, that CBI/SIT is trying to shield and protect the involved paramilitary force personnel from the case.

Raising apprehension that justice might not be to delivered to the victims, she informed that EEVFAM, HRA and the family members, had already filed five protest petitions before different Courts in connection with the submission of the closer/final report.

On January 24, a similar petition will be filed against one more closer report/ final report involving paramilitary forces, she added.

On the other hand, Asem Sana, aunt of the deceased Asem Romajit, lamented that it is very unfortunate that the CBI/SIT submitted a closer report/final report of the Pangei Bazaar case, even though the family members had been waiting for such a long period in the hope that justice will be delivered.

She continued that when the CBI/SIT came for inquiry, they gave their statements in the hope that truth will prevail.

Babloo Loitongbam, executive director of HRA, narrated that as per the direction of the Supreme Court in 2017, CBI/SIT registered 39 FIR cases of alleged fake encounter/extra judicial killing in Manipur.

The Supreme Court of India had directed CBI to submit the charge sheets/final reports of the cases within 6 months and to conclude them by December the same year.

However, the deadline was extended by two years as CBI/SIT had submitted only 13 charge sheets and 7 closer report/ final reports, with 19 more cases yet to be completed, he added.

Most of the cases for which the CBI/SIT had registered FIR, have already been registered by the National Human Right Commission, he explained.

Babloo Loitongbam then raised suspicion regarding how the CBI/SIT submitted the closer report/final report in connection with the death of Asem Romajit and Yumnam Robita in the Pangei incident of 2004.He explained that the inquiry report of the District and Session Court in 2012, mentioned that CRPF was responsible for the death of Asem Romajit and Yumnam Robita and added that over and above, on August 26, 2014, the High Court (in connection with a writ petition filed by the victims' families) had observed that by the time the two victims were shot dead, the unknown individual (s) who had reportedly fired upon the CRPF personnel, had already left the spot and the death of two victims could be only because of firing by CRPF personnel.

The closer report/ final report submitted by the CBI/ SIT regarding the Pangei incident is not acceptable, therefore the protest petition challenges the closer report on the ground that CBI intentionally chose not to appreciate the statement of key eye witnesses, Babloo explained, further alleging the CBI of trying to protect CRPF personnel from criminal prosecution.

He further said that it is highly disturbing to note that in the 13 charge sheets filed till date, more than 70 Manipur police personnel have been indicted, but not a single personnel of the armed forces is mentioned despite clear evidence of their involvement in the extrajudicial executions.

Babloo, on behalf of EEVFAM, HRA and the victims' family members, hoped for CBI to carry out an independent, impartial, thorough and prompt investigation in the interest of justice as well.

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