‘Designate DIG rank officer to investigate fake encounter’

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 24

The Supreme Court has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that it would be appropriate to appoint a senior officer at least the rank of DIG to lead the SIT team to investigate the fake encounter killings of Manipur.

Acting on the petition filed by the extra judicial execution victim families association, Manipur (EEVFAM) against extra judicial killing cases of 1528, the apex court on July 14 directed the CBI to form a special investigating team (SIT) for inquiring into fake encounter killings of Manipur.

As per the direction the CBI on July 27 last constituted a five men SIT team headed by the SP of CBI, New Delhi.

The petition was heard on Wednesday by a division bench comprising of Justice Madan, B. Lokur and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit.

During the hearing the bureau submitted before the SC that the order of the court was complied with by forming an SIT headed by SP rank.

The team will scrutinise various cases which have already been investigated by the higher and lower courts, commissions and Manipur Human Rights Commission and chargesheeted. The team is to submit their report to the Supreme Court by December 31, 2017.

The SC observed that it will be appropriate if a senior officer at least of the rank of DIG is appointed by the Director, CBI (if already not appointed) to monitor the investigation so that the investigation can be concluded expeditiously.

Given the 98 number of cases, the Court questioned whether the five men team would be enough to take up all the cases.

In response, the counsel of the respondents submitted before the court that although the SIT was headed by an SP the entire operation was to be carried out under the supervision of officer above the rank of SP.

With regards to the number of strength, the respondent’s counsel reportedly submitted that if required the investigation team will used man from other agencies.

In the meantime, division bench also made it clear that members of the team (SIT) should not be changed without leave of the court and should exclusively undertake the task in terms of the directive, except with regards to any pending matter which is nearing conclusion. The same directive will apply equally to the monitoring officers, added the SC.