EEVFAM lauds HC judgements......but sore with State Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 13 2014 :
While lauding the recent judgements passed by the High Court of Manipur in connection with certain fake encounter cases, the Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families' Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) has said that they were dejected on seeing that the High Court judgements did not say anything about initiating criminal proceedings against Central and State armed forces personnel indicted in the fake encounter cases.
Speaking to media persons at the Kwakeithel office of Human Rights Alert (HRA) this afternoon, EEVFAM general secretary Edina Yaikhom noted that the High Court of Manipur issued orders directing the respondents to pay compensation to families of victims of six fake encounter cases.
Even though EEVFAM welcomed the High Court verdict, its petition to initiate criminal proceedings against the accused security personnel was completely overlooked and this is rather disappointing to the association.
Edina appealed to all sections of the society to cooperate and work together in ensuring that all security personnel involved in fake encounters are punished according to law and thus justice is delivered to all the victims.
She also appealed to the Government of Manipur to initiate criminal proceedings against security personnel involved in fake encounters rather than waiting for High Court directives.
Even though the State Government constituted a number of enquiry commissions under the Commission of Enquiry Act 1952, reports of the enquiries were neither made public nor did the State Government take up any action based on the findings of the enquiry commissions.
Enquiry reports were sought even through the Right to Information Act but to no avail.
Subsequently, EEVFAM's counsel pleaded the Supreme Court to direct the State Government to provide reports of 27 enquiries out of 1528 fake encounter cases listed.
Accordingly the State Government submitted enquiry reports of 18 cases but reports of nine cases are yet to be submitted.
After the apex Court had ruled that the six cases of alleged encounters in which seven people were killed were genuine fake encounters, EEVFAM sought reports of the 27 enquiries.
The cases for which the State Government is yet to provide enquiry reports pertain to killing of A Nongren by police commando on October 29, 2004 at Nongren Chinglak, killing of Thangjam Manorama by 17 Assam Rifles on July 10, 2004; killing of Kh Deveshwor by 17 AR on March 9, 2004; killing of Md Tayeb Ali by AR on July 25, 1999; killing of Yumlembam Sanamacha on January 14, 1998; killing of Laishram Bijoykumar by army on June 5, 1996; Operation Blue Bird carried out by AR at Oinam, Senapati district in 1987, killing of C Paul and C Daniel by army on March 10, 1982 and the killing of Loken and Lokendro by army on December 23, 1982 .
Judicial enquiries were conducted into all these killings.
Of the 18 enquiry reports submitted by the State Government to the Supreme Court, many have not been made public and the State Government has suspended further proceedings, Edina said.
One of the enquiry reports is on the massacre of 13 people by CRPF at Heirangoithong on March 14, 1984 .
Other reports are on the killing of Naorem (N) Oinam (O) Amina Devi and her daughter Abem by CRPF on April 5, 1996; killing of LD Rengtulwan by 28 AR on November 16, 2004 at Bungte Chiru, killing of Limkhongam Baite, Thangkhopao Baite and Thenminthang Baite by police at KR Lane on October 25, 2004; killing of five persons by police at Kwakeithel Akham Leikai on August 28, 1998 and killing of Thoudam Muhindro and Mayanglambam Ibotombi by police on Kakching-Wabagai road on December 26, 1996 .
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