New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the NIA, CBI and Intelligence Bureau to file affidavits on the plea for an independent probe into the alleged mysterious disappearance of Rebati Phukan, a mediator between the government and various Northeast militant groups.

A bench of Justice A.M. Sapre and Justice U.U. Lalit passed the directive while initially expressing its intention to transfer the case to either the Gauhati or Meghalaya high courts.

The bench passed the orders after additional solicitor-general Maninder Singh, representing the Centre, sought time to file a response to a sealed-cover report submitted by the Assam government on allegations made by Phukan's son. The state had filed the sealed- cover report in the court on Monday.

Justice Sapre, while directing Singh to ensure that response of the three government agencies are filed within three days, posted the matter for further hearing on Friday.

The apex court had earlier on June 1, issued notices to the Centre, Assam and Meghalaya governments on the petition filed by Kaushik Phukan, seeking production of his father Rebati Phukan and a probe by CBI or any other independent organisation into his alleged mysterious disappearance.

The family had complained that Rebati had mysteriously disappeared on April 22 while reportedly being involved in truce talks between Ulfa's Paresh Barua faction and various government agencies.

The petition also urged the apex court to transfer the investigations relating to his disappearance to the CBI or any other independent agency as they have no faith in the Assam police.

A habeas corpus is a petition filed before a court for production of a person whose whereabouts are not known despite a complaint being lodged with the police. According to the family, Phukan disappeared from his residence under Geeta Nagar police station in Guwahati, where he was staying alone. According to the petition, Phukan had on April 20 attended a secret meeting with retired Indian Administrative Officer Shantanu Thakuria and Pranab Pathak, the advocate-general of Assam High Court, where a proposal was floated to negotiate with Ulfa leader Paresh Barua. It said Phukan has been working directly with the Prime Minister's Office since 1991, for various peace missions between the Centre and Ulfa.