Guwahati, Jan 25: The Assam government on Tuesday sought more time to reply before the Gauhati High Court in a case relating to alleged “fake encounters” by Assam Police since May last year.
Advocate General Devajit Saikia, appearing for the state government, sought 10 more days from the Court to file the affidavit.
The High Court had, on January 11, 2022, directed the state government to file a detailed affidavit within two weeks and the detailed counter affidavit to be filed by the secretary (home) or additional secretary (home).
The matter has now been posted for hearing on February 8, 2022.
New Delhi-based advocate, Arif Jwadder had filed a PIL in the High Court, seeking an order for the registration of an FIR in the alleged fake encounter cases.
Jwadder, also an activist and a resident of Assam, 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 PIL (number 86/2021), the advocate mentioned that 80 such encounters have taken place in the state since May 2021, resulting in 28 deaths and leaving 48 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) had been named as respondents in the petition.
In July last year, Jwadder had filed a complaint against such incidents with the NHRC.
The commission thereafter sought a report from the Assam Police in September. In November, the NHRC transferred the case to the AHRC.