Manipur encounters: Expedite probe, issue involves life & death, says SC

The Supreme Court said today that cases of alleged fake encounters in Manipur by the Army, Assam Rifles and state police involved the issue of "life and death" of people and asked the CBI's SIT to expeditiously complete its investigations in these matter.

A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit was informed by CBI director Alok Kumar Verma, who was present in the court in pursuance to its direction, that two charge sheets were filed today before the competent court in the encounter cases and five more final reports would be filed by August 31.

Verma said that 14 persons have been chargesheeted in two cases for the alleged offences of murder, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence under the provisions of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The CBI director was earlier summoned by the apex court which was unhappy over the "unduly long time" taken by the special investigating team (SIT) in probing the cases of alleged extra-judicial killings and fake encounters in Manipur.

During the hearing today, the CBI director told the bench that probe in 20 more encounter cases would be completed by December end after which investigation in 14 more cases would be taken up by the SIT.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that 14 persons have been chargesheeted in two cases for the heinous offence of murder but no one has been arrested so far.

The bench then asked the CBI director, "Have you arrested anybody during the investigation?"