Assam govt seeks more time from HC to file affidavit on police ‘encounters’

Guwahati: The Assam government has sought more time to submit an affidavit before the Gauhati High Court in the case relating to alleged fake encounters by Assam Police since May last year.

Appearing for the state government on Tuesday, Advocate General Devajit Saikia sought 10 more days from the high court to file the affidavit.

The court had, on January 11, directed the state government to file a detailed affidavit within two weeks besides the detailed counter affidavit from the secretary (home) or additional secretary (home). The matter has now been posted for hearing on February 8, 2022.

New Delhi-based advocate and activist Arif Jwadder had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the High Court, seeking an order for the registration of an FIR in the alleged fake encounter cases. 

He also sought an independent investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or a police team from another state, under the supervision of the court in the encounter cases. 

Jwadder, a resident of Assam, has in the PIL (number 86/2021), mentioned that 80 such encounters have taken place in the state since May 2021, resulting in 28 deaths and 48 persons injured.

He further sought a judicial inquiry by a sitting Judge of the Gauhati High Court into the alleged encounters and monetary compensation to the families of the victims after due verification.

Besides the state government, Assam Police, the department of law and justice, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) have been named as respondents in the petition.

In July last year, Jwadder had filed a complaint against such incidents with the NHRC. The commission subsequently sought a report from the Assam Police in September.

In November, the NHRC had transferred the case to the AHRC.

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