New Delhi: The Supreme Court today ordered
Chhattisgarh government to produce before it 12 persons who
have been missing after they filed petitions seeking CBI probe
into the killings of around a dozen villagers in Dantewada
district as a part of anti-naxal operation.
The apex court, which came down heavily on the state
government, asked it to locate the missing persons and present
them before it by next Monday on February 15.
Taking a serious note of the allegations, a Bench
comprising Justices B Sidershan Reddy and S S Nijjar expressed
displeasure over the entire incident and said "we are shocked
and amazed at the attitute of the state government that while
the matter is pending before us these things are taking
place".
The Bench said the state government was behaving in such
way that it feels that those who do not agree with its view
don't have any right to live.
The petition filed by a human rights activist alleged
the kith and kin of the victims, who filed petitions in the
apex court, were allegedly abducted by the Chhattisgarh
Police.
The petition filed by Himanshu Kumar alleged a
28-year-old key witness Sodi Sambo, who was undergoimg
treatment for a bullet wound, was last seen here at the All
India Institute of Medical Sciences.
Adcvocate Atul Jha, appearing for Chhatisgarh government,
said the orders of the apex court will be communicated to the
concerned authorities.
"We will take all possible steps to produce the alleged
missing persons," he said and denied the state police abducted
them.
-PTI
First Published: Tuesday, February 09, 2010, 00:38