Assam Police encounters: Human Rights panel orders probe; seeks report by mid-Aug

Guwahati: The Assam Human Rights Commission, taking suo-moto cognisance of media reports, ha asked the state government to institute an inquiry into the circumstances that led to the death and injury of 12 persons in police encounter over the past two months.

Issuing the order to the principal secretary to the home and political department of Assam, the Commission asked the Assam Police to submit a report by August 17.

Divulging the matter on Sunday, AHRC member Deva Kumar Saikia said the Commission has asked the Assam government to ascertain the facts and circumstances leading to the death and injuries of the accused persons.

He also stated that firing upon an accused when in police custody or during a chase should not be made a trend.

Earlier, a Delhi-based lawyer from Assam, Arif Jwadder, had filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against the Assam Police for the series of encounters that have taken place since Himanta Biswa Sarma took over as chief minister on May 10.

Justifying the encounters, Sarma had on July 5 said that shooting at criminals ‘should be the pattern’ if they attempt to escape from custody or try to snatch guns from the police to fire at them.

Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi has also voiced strong reaction against the chief minister’s stand on police firing.

Police have claimed that they resort to firing to prevent the accused in custody from fleeing at times after snatching or attempting to snatch firearms of the cops guarding them.

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