HC orders SIT probe into ‘fake encounter’ by army intel unit

NEW DELHI: A 2010‘ fake encounter ’, in which three Manipuri men were allegedly killed by officers of a Na ga land-based army intelligence unit, has comeback to haunt the security force as the Gauhati high court ordered further probe in the case.

Directing the Nagaland government to setup a Special investigation Team( SIT) headed by an officer above the rank of superintendent of police, the court said: “Considering the unsatisfactory manner of investigation carried out by the police, we feel that the case needs to be further investigated and for this purpose, investigation should be conducted or handled by higher functionaries of the state.”

The high court also said the army will provide assistance to the SIT in the case. Slam ming the earlier probe by the Nagaland police as ‘extremely shoddy and perfunctory’, the high court said the SIT will take the investigation to its ‘logical end’ and submit a report in court within two months. The court order comes on a 2014 petition filed by Phijam Ma ni kumar, the brother of one of the deceased.

In his plea, Manikumar claimed that the three men were abducted by the intelligence unit of 3 Corps from Na ga land’ s Di map ur and that their bodies bore tor- ture marks.

Maikumar also cited letters purportedly written by Major T Ravi Kiran of the same intelligence unit to higher authorities, accusing army officers of staging the killing.

Major Kiran had allegedly written a letter dated 12.03.2010 to the army’s higher authorities, complaining that three Ma nip uri men were abducted and brought to their unit on March 10, 2010, where they were tortured and shot dead behind the unit mess.

The Major, in the letters, also reportedly said Colonel G Shreekumar orchestrated the abduction and killing and was assisted by Major Ru been aK aurKee rand Major Nector.

The army, however, dismissed Major Kiran’s allegations and claimed that none of its personnel were involved in the alleged fake encounter.

THE COURT ORDER COMES ON A 2014 PETITION FILED BY PHIJAM MANIKUMAR, THE BROTHER OF ONE OF THE DECEASED