[BREAKING] PIL petitioner levelled false allegations of extra-judicial killings by security forces: Central government to Supreme Court

The Central government has moved Supreme Court seeking to hold a public interest litigation (PIL) petitioner guilty of levelling false charges of extra-judicial killings against security forces in relation to the 2009 operations against left-wing extremists in Chhattisgarh [Himanshu Kumar vs State of Chattisgarh].The case dates back to 2009 when the PIL petitioner, Himanshu Kumar had moved the top court detailing how between September 2009 to October 2009, security force personnel had not only committed extra-judicial killings but also raped and looted tribal people in the areas of Gachanpalli, Gompad and Belpocha in the district of Dantewada, Chattisgarh..As per the top court orders in 2010, a Delhi District judge was ordered to record the statements of the petitioners. However, the statements then recorded was made available to the Centre only in March 2022.The Central government in its application before the apex court has now claimed that after examining the statements so recorded, it was clear that the arguments made by the PIL petitioner were "ex facie false, fabricated and deceitful.".Centre has stated in its application that the sole objective of the petitioner was to portray the left wing extremists as "innocent tribal victims being massacred by security forces.".Over the years it has become a pattern for petitions to be filed by individuals and organizations who either are supporters of left wing extremism or derive benefits from their financial contribution, the Central government alleged..In the present case, the sole objective of the petitioner was to derail the security forces from their ongoing efforts to netralize left wing extremism, the Central government contended."It is submitted that all this was done before the highest court of the country and at the altar of national security," the application by Centre said..It, therefore, prayed for holding the petitioner guilty of submitting false evidence.It also sought directions for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or any other central agency to probe individuals and organisations who have been abetting and conspiring to file petitions in court to deter security forces from acting against naxal militia..The plea by Centre will be argued by Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta.The plea has been drawn by Advocates Neela Gokhale, Rajat Nair and filed through Advocate Arvind Kumar Sharma.