NDTV: New Delhi: Monday, June 05, 2017.
The CRPF has
refused to make public a fake encounter report, filed by one of its Inspector
Generals, citing exemption granted to the paramilitary from disclosures under
the RTI Act. In response to a query seeking a copy of the report on the fake
encounter by a joint squad of security forces in Assam in which two persons
were killed, the CRPF cited section 24 of the RTI Act.
Extra
judicial killings are violation of human rights and do not come under the
exemption given to some organisations from making disclosures under the RTI
Act. The act says when the information sought for pertains to human rights
violations, it "shall be" provided after sanction from the Central
Information Commission within 45 days.
But the CRPF
rather than referring the matter to the CIC, "rejected" the
application.
Rajnish Rai,
a 1992-batch IPS officer of Gujarat cadre, had filed a report with the CRPF top
brass chronicling how a joint team of the Army, the Assam Police, the CRPF, its
jungle warfare unit CoBRA and the border guarding force Sashastra Seema Bal
(SSB) conducted the encounter on March 29-30 in Simlaguri area of Chirang
district and killed what they called were two insurgents of the banned group
NDFB(S).
Mr Rai, in
his 13-page report, alleged that information about the incident and FIR filed
by the joint squad of forces present a "fictitious account" of the
operation to "conceal pre-planned murders of two persons in custody and
present itas some brave act of professional achievement".
The home
ministry had acknowledged receiving the report and said it is being studied and
action on its content will be taken soon.
Advisor to
the home ministry Ashok Prasad had said that the CRPF DG had received the
report and would send it to the home ministry.
Mr Rai,
deputy chief of the CRPF formations in the northeastern states, had also sent
the April 17 report to the Chief Secretary of Assam and chairperson of the
Unified Command of security forces, the Central Reserve Police Force
headquarters here, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 4 Corps in Assam
and the Director General of the SSB.