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CBI�s SIT not serious about Manipur fake encounters: SC

By The Assam Tribune

NEW DELHI, Jan 8 - Supreme Court today said it appeared that the matter relating to probe into extra-judicial killings, alleged fake encounters by Army, Assam Rifles and police in insurgency-hit Manipur was not being taken up seriously by a Special Investigation Team of the CBI.

The apex court observed this after it was informed that despite its order in July last year, only 11 FIRs out of a total of 92 cases have been registered by the SIT in the matter.

�It appears to us that the matter is not being taken up by CBI and SIT with the seriousness which it deserves,� a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and UU Lalit said and directed the CBI�s DIG, who is in-charge of the SIT probe, to remain present before it on January 16.

The bench also asked the DIG to file a status report of the progress made in the investigation in these cases. The top court had on July 14 last year set up an SIT ordered registration of FIRs and probe into the extra-judicial killings in Manipur.

It had asked the CBI director to nominate a team of five officers for the SIT, who will lodge the necessary FIRs and complete the investigation into alleged fake encounters by December 31 last year.

During the hearing, the lawyer appearing for petitioners, said that the court had ordered lodging of FIRs till December 31 but as per the office report, only 11 such FIRs have been registered in a total of 92 matters.

�The SIT is dragging its feet,� the counsel said after which the bench asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh about it.

The apex court, which is hearing a PIL seeking probe into 1,528 extra-judicial killings, had in July last year ordered registration of FIR in 81 cases including 32 probed by a Commission of Enquiry, 32 cases investigated by judicial enquiries and high courts, 11 cases in which compensation has been awarded by NHRC and six cases probed by a commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Santosh Hegde. � PTI

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