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New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has asked the Assam State Human Rights Commission to carry out a detailed investigation into over 170 alleged fake police encounters that happened between May 2021 and August 2022.
A bench led by Justice Surya Kant said each case should be looked into separately, and the victims or their families must be given a chance to speak. The court added that hearing the victims is not just a formality, but their legal right.
Justice Kant observed that many victims might have remained silent due to fear or lack of resources.
The Supreme Court has instructed the Human Rights Commission to handle the probe with full care, responsibility, and seriousness. This decision came in response to a petition asking for an independent probe into 171 cases of suspected fake encounters by Assam Police.
Earlier, in January 2023, the Gauhati High Court had rejected a public interest litigation (PIL) regarding these encounters. The petitioner then approached the Supreme Court. According to an affidavit submitted by the Assam government, 56 people lost their lives, including four in police custody, and 145 were injured in these incidents.
Back in October 2024, the top court had described the matter as “very serious” and had asked for more details from the Assam government. The petitioner told the High Court that from May 2021, over 80 alleged fake encounters had taken place, which resulted in 28 deaths.
Now, the Supreme Court wants each case to be reviewed properly so that justice can be done.
