The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has urged the Supreme Court to allow its officers investigating the alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur as a part of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to do other work as company’s probe within the encounters is almost wrapped up.
The company has knowledgeable the apex courtroom that out of 39 instances registered to examine alleged faux encounters in Manipur, cost sheets have been filed in 17 instances; 15 instances have been closed whereas prosecution sanction in opposition to military officers or Assam Rifles personnel is awaited in the remainder of the instances.
An officer, who didn’t need to be named, mentioned the defence ministry has denied prosecution sanction in sure instances citing AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) in Manipur, which provides sweeping powers to the safety forces in a ‘disturbed space’.
Also Read | CBI registers preliminary enquiry against Anil Deshmukh on HC order
The Supreme Court, which was listening to a plea searching for a probe into 1,528 instances of alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur, had on July 14, 2017, ordered structure of an SIT, which it mentioned will solely probe the encounters. The CBI initially shaped a five-member SIT, wherein two officers of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) – together with senior superintendent of police Mahesh Bhardwaj – have been later included as members. The SC launched Bhardwaj from SIT final month.
In its utility filed within the apex courtroom on January 7 this yr, reviewed by HT, CBI mentioned the “SIT has investigated these instances with all sincerity, seriousness and full devotion to unearth the reality”.
The anti-corruption probe company added “these instances have been investigated with full objectivity and comprehensively to examine all allegations of use of extreme drive or retaliatory drive by uniformed personnel ensuing within the loss of life of any individual”.
Requesting the SC to allow its officers to do other work within the company, it mentioned, “In view of the prevailing Covid-19 scenario and ever-increasing workload of CBI, the already over-stretched assets of CBI are to be used optimally”.
Expressing its helplessness in taking all of the instances to conclusion, CBI mentioned these instances are “years/a long time outdated and are of particular nature to the extent that these can’t be investigated solely on the premise of paperwork.”
“Circumstantial proof, oral testimony of the eyewitness (if any) and other related witnesses, opinion of medico-legal specialists, forensic specialists and other scientific proof are crucial for correct investigation of such sort of instances,” CBI mentioned.
It mentioned Covid-19 induced lockdowns and restrictions additionally affected its work however it’s attempting to full the investigation on the earliest.
The company additional mentioned that SIT’s superintendent of police LS Padmakumar and deputy SP VPS Mann have been superannuated in May 2019 and June 2020 respectively whereas inspector Amar Saxena has handed away.
