NHRC has chief justice’s support against extra-judicial killings.

National Human Rights Commission chairman, Mizanur Rahman, has said the persons involved with extra-judicial killings must be brought to justice, following a meeting with Chief Justice SK Sinha at the latter’s office on Thursday. ‘Drawing the attention of the Chief Justice over the present political situation, we have said that there is reason to believe that the law enforcement agencies are abusing their powers, as we have heard many allegations in this regard,’ he said. ‘We (NHRC) have cautioned the law enforcement agencies and asked them to remain cautious. In spite of that, some incidents are occurring which cannot be legalised,’ he said. Mizanur said this while talking to reporters after the meeting with the chief justice. He added that the CJ told him that he would consider the issue with importance provided the commission raises any specific allegation. ‘Chief Justice Sinha told me that he would support any programme that we may take up at NHRC to stop harassment by the law enforcement agencies,’ Mizanur revealed. On the recent spate of extra-judicial killings, Mizanur, also a professor of law, said, ‘In some cases, it is being said that the killings occurred as a result of “gun-battle”. But later we learn that crude or petrol bombs were found with the victim of extra-judicial killing.

Then it is relayed to us that the death was due to his involvement with “terrorist acts”. We have drawn the attention of the Chief Justice in this regard.’ Mizanur said CJ Sinha was briefed on the NHRC’s position that any type of deaths was not acceptable, as long as it was not proved that there was an actual gun-battle and exchange of fire between the two groups, with police having no alternative but to shoot. ‘If that much is not proven, we will consider the incident as extra-judicial killing and the responsible person should be brought to justice,’ he added. SK Sinha, the country’s first chief justice from a minority community, assured the NHRC boss to give importance if the commission comes to the court in this regard. Mentioning disrespect towards the law among the law enforcement agencies, Mizanur said, ‘We are not only getting written allegations, we’re also receiving allegations over phone where it was said that someone has been caught and taken away, but law enforcement agencies are denying it.’ Eventually the involvement of the state’s security agencies come to light, as the person is produced before the court. Here we clearly see disrespect for the law by the agencies, he added.

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