New Delhi (Agency): The Supreme Court has taken note of a plea against the Gauhati High Court’s dismissal of a public interest litigation (PIL) related to a series of police encounters in Assam since Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assumed power. The bench has issued notices to the Assam government, the National Human Rights Commission, and others, seeking their response.
The Gauhati High Court had previously dismissed the PIL, stating that separate investigations were already being conducted by the state government in each case. According to a government affidavit cited by the court, 56 people were killed, including four in custody, and 145 others were injured in 171 incidents between May 2021 and August 2022.
The petitioner, advocate Arif Md Yeasin Jwadder, alleges that more than 80 “fake encounters” occurred between Assam police and individuals accused in various cases since May 2021. The PIL claims that 28 people were killed and over 48 others were injured in these encounters. The petitioner questions the genuineness of the police’s claims regarding self-defense, as the victims were not militants and were unlikely to be trained in weapon use.
Jwadder has requested an independent investigation by agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Special Investigation Team (SIT), or a police team from another state under court supervision. The plea raises doubts about the police’s modus operandi and calls for transparency and accountability in the encounters.
Apart from the Assam government and police chief, the state’s Law and Justice Department, National Human Rights Commission, and Assam Human Rights Commission have been named as respondents in the case. The Supreme Court’s move to issue notices demonstrates its intent to examine the matter and ensure a fair and impartial investigation into the alleged encounters.
