SC orders Assam human rights panel to probe alleged staged gunfights by police

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the Assam Human Rights Commission to investigate the alleged fake encounters by the state police since 2021, Live Law reported.

The court passed the direction in response to a petition by a lawyer named Arif Jwaddar, who claimed that over 80 such staged gunfights had taken place in the state since May 2021, when Bharatiya Janata Party leader Himanta Biswa Sarma became the chief minister.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh on Wednesday said that while a mere compilation of cases could not lead to blanket judicial orders, allegations of staged gunfights were serious, Bar and Bench reported. It said that the allegations, if proven, would amount to grave violations of the right to life.

However, the court added: “It is also equally possible that upon a fair, impartial and independent investigation, some of these cases might may turn out to be necessary and legally justified.”

The judges said that the victims of the alleged staged gunfights or their families must be given a fair and meaningful chance to take part in the proceedings, Bar and Bench reported. They directed that the human rights commission issue a public notice inviting anyone who may have such grievances to come forward.

The commission can also carry out further investigation if it feels that it is...

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