EEVFAM hails panel report
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, April 04 2013: The Extrajudicial Execution Victims' Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) has expressed over joy after the six cases of extrajudicial killings in Manipur being probed by a Supreme Court appointed inquiry commission were pronounced to be fake encounters by the panel in the apex court today.

Hearing of the six cases will begin from April 9 .

The Supreme Court has learned that security forces in Manipur commit glut atrocities on the people of the state, said Takhellambam Renu Devi, president, EEVFAM during a press meet at the office of Human Rights Alert (HRA) here Thursday.

She said, "She is glad that the apex court has started to realize the scenes of fake encouters orchestrated by security forces in the state" .

The jubilant leader of EEVFAM further said that she was very happy that now the security forces that have been enjoying impunity for a long time will be punished by law" .

Renu said she also thanks all those witnesses who had given testimonies in the six cases and individuals who helped the inquiry committee.

However, she lamented that though copies of the commission's report have been given to the Central and state Governments and Home Department, the victims' families have denied it.

EEVFAM secretary Nina Ningombam, who was also present at the press meet, said even if everyone knew that these cases were fake encounters, there was trepidation that nothing could be done.

She said, "Though it is late, now there is a hope that justice will be delivered by the Supreme Court" .

The commission headed by Supreme Court Justice N Santosh Hegde, former Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh and retired DGP of Karnaka Police, Ajay Kumar Singh was established under the directive of the apex court on January 4, 2013 .

The commission was set up following a recent petition filed by EEVFAM which pleaded for an independent probe into more than 1500 cases of extrajudicial killings in Manipur.

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