‘Fake encounter’: HC asks admn to settle long overdue aid plea

Raipur: Chhattisgarh high court directed Jashpur collector to decide within 45 days on a long-pending compensation plea filed by a woman, Sanjho Bai, whose husband was killed in a 1992 police encounter that was later found to be fake.Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi issued the directive on March 16 while disposing of a writ petition filed by the widow, a resident of Dhegurjor village in Jashpur. The petitioner approached the court seeking a time-bound decision on her representation dated Sept, 24 2024.The high court granted the petitioner 15 days to submit a fresh copy of her application along with the court order to the district administration. The collector must decide on the matter within 45 days of receiving these documents. In her petition Sanjho Bai alleged that her husband, Ramnath Nagvanshi, a social worker and vegetable trader, was killed in a police encounter by policemen from Kansabel police station on Mar 26, 1992, after being falsely labelled a Naxalite. She claimed subsequent inquiries indicated he had no links to insurgent activities, making the killing unlawful. Despite repeated representations, no action or compensation was provided. The petitioner demanded Rs 1 crore as compensation, a fair investigation into the alleged fake encounter, and accountability of the officials involved, asserting prolonged mental harassment and hardship caused by the state's inaction.On June 11, 2002, a sessions court convicted the then station house officer, HR Aharwat, under Section 304-I of the Indian Penal Code. Five other police personnel were convicted under Section 323/34 of the IPC.Following these convictions, Sanjho Bai moved an application before the Jashpur collector for compensation. The plea remained pending for years, leading to the legal challenge.