Fake Encounters: Assam Govt failed to submit affidavit

Guwahati: The Assam government failed to submit an affidavit to the Gauhati High Court on the alleged false encounters by Assam Police since May of last year, and the matter was postponed till February 8th.

The Assam government was ordered by the High Court on January 11th to file a full counter affidavit within two weeks, with the detailed counter affidavit to be filed by Secretary (Home) or Additional Secretary (Home).

Advocate Paras Nath Singh testified today on behalf of the petitioner, who is seeking an impartial investigation into alleged fake encounters in the state.

The State’s Advocate General, Devajit Lon Saikia, requested an extension of 10 days to file the affidavit.

Arif Jwadder, a lawyer and activist who filed the PIL No. 86/2021, stated that 80 such instances have occurred in the state since May 2021, resulting in 28 deaths and 48 injuries.

Jwadder has asked the High Court to order the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), a Special Investigation Team (SIT), or a police team from another state to register a FIR in the alleged fake encounter cases, as well as an independent investigation by the CBI, a Special Investigation Team (SIT), or a police team from another state, all under the supervision of the Court.

He also demanded a legal investigation into the alleged encounters by a sitting Judge of the Gauhati High Court, as well as monetary compensation for the victims’ families after due verification.

It may be mentioned that besides the State Government, Assam Police, the Department of Law and Justice, NHRC, and the Assam Human Rights Commission had been named as respondents in the petition.

It needs to be mentioned that in July last year, Jwadder had filed a complaint against such incidents with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The commission had sought a report from the Assam Police in September. In November, NHRC transferred the case to the Assam Human Rights Commission.

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