SC notice to govt on PIL accusing armed forces, police of fake encounter

The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and Assam government on a PIL accusing the armed forces and state police of allegedly indulging in fake encounters in the state.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud also issued notices to the CRPF, the National Human Rights Commission and others.

The bench on Monday also sought responses from General Officer Commanding of 4 Corps and chairperson of Operational Group, Unified Command -- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) -- CRPF commandant posted in Chirang district of Assam.

Some of the senior officials of the central forces are named in the petition filed by former bureaucrat E A S Sarma.

The PIL is based on a report filed by CRPF IG Rajnish Rai in April 2017 alleging "cold blooded fake encounter killing of two suspected members of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) faction" on March 30 last year in Assam's Simalguri village.

Assam NRC just a draft, no coercive action against those left out: SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the publication of the complete draft NRC of Assam cannot be the basis of any coercive action against anyone since it is merely a draft.

It also directed the Centre to formulate standard operating procedure (SOP) to deal with claims and objections.

The apex court directed the Centre to place the SOP before it for approval and said it should be fair and giving reasonable opportunity to contest exclusion.

A bench of justices Ranjan Gogoi and R F Nariman said the Centre should place the SOP before it by August 16 and that a local registrar has to give notice to those who have filed claims and objections, and give them reasonable opportunity for hearing.

At the outset, Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC) coordinator Prateek Hajela placed before the court its status report giving details of publication of the draft NRC yesterday.

To this the bench asked what was the future course of action.

Government will protect indigenous people's interest: Assam CM Sonowal

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said that the government would protect the interest of indigenous people at all costs.

The state government would take all steps to ensure that indigenous people are not deprived of their land following the passage of State Capital Region Bill in the just concluded session of the Assam assembly, he said during a meeting with representatives of various organisations of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council area.

Necessary amendments would be made in the Bill to allay the apprehensions of the indigenous people and safeguard their interests, he said.

The council chief executive member Tankeswar Rabha expressed concern that the state capital region would override the land rights of tribal people living in the fringes of Guwahati city which would be covered by it.

Land acquisition in tribal belt areas for expanding the capital would violate the rules of acquiring land in tribal belts and it would make the indigenous people lose the right of their land, Rabha said.

The CM assured that all steps would be taken to protect the land rights and asked the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council organisations to submit their written complaints to the government.
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