The Supreme Court today said a proper probe is needed into various encounter killings in Manipur and suggested formation of a Special Investigating Team, SIT to probe into some of those cases. A bench of justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai said, further investigation needs to be done as in some cases judicial enquiry came to conclusion that people were killed in fake encounters. The bench said that the situation in the state is not normal.

One of the petitioners contended that CBI can be directed to inquire into those cases but the bench said it might not be practical solution as agency would take years to complete the probe. The proposition of setting up SIT was opposed by the Centre and the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC . The Commission said it would not be possible for SIT to probe such a large number of cases.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition by an association of the families of the alleged victims, pleading with the apex court to set up a SIT and direct inquiry into around 1500 such cases.