NHRC asks Assam govt to pay Rs 5 lakh to encounter victims kin

The National Human Rights Commission has directed Assam government to pay Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of two youths killed in an encounter with security forces.
A Division Bench comprising NHRC members Justice D Murugesan and Justice Satybrata Pal passed the order asking the state government to pay the amount to next of kin of Munindra Kalita and Pingal Deka who were killed in an encounter by a joint team of the Army and police at Na-Satra in Barpeta district of Assam on July 10, 2009, a release issued today said.
The Commission also asked for proof of payment on or before April 17, 2014, it said.

The Commission held that Assam government has no explanation to offer to its various observations raising doubts about the genuineness of the encounter.
The Commission had taken suo motu cognizance of the incident and registered a case No. 209/3/1/2011-ED on the basis of the information given on the website of Assam Police that two ULFA extremist were killed in an encounter.
The Commission, during the course of enquiry, did not find the enquiry conducted by the Magistrate helpful and observed that he had not taken trouble to examine the witness' evidence to check police claim that the entire village was cordoned off before the encounter.

There was no forensic laboratory test to establish scientific evidence that the encounter was genuine and took place as claimed by the police.
The post mortem report conclusively demolished the case made out by the police and contrary to their claims of encounter from a distance, it was found that both the men were shot at contact range, the release added.