Assam police on 'encounter spree': Plaint filed with NHRC

Alleging that Assam police are on an 'encounter spree' since the newly formed Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government took charge in the state, a Delhi-based lawyer has lodged a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission seeking immediate intervention on the matter.

Guwahati:A Delhi-based lawyer, hailing from Assam, has lodged a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) alleging that the Assam police are on an "encounter spree" since the newly formed Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government took charge in the state. "Since the new government took office in the state, there have been fake encounters wherein small-time criminals are being shot citing reasons that they tried to flee from the police custody snatching pistols," said lawyer Arif Jwadder in his complaint.

As per reports, since June 1, over 20 such encounters either of under-custody accused or during raids have been reported in the state. Jwadder also listed out 10 such cases of encounters where the alleged criminals were gunned down or injured. Naming them, he said that the alleged criminals include Bubu Konwar, wanted for several crimes including murder, and sacked Railway Protection Special Force sub-inspector Kanwaldeep Singh Sidhu wanted for abducting a businessman. They were both gunned down on May 23 and July 3.

"All the injured or dead persons are not militants and hence not trained to use pistols and it is very unlikely that they could use the pistols after snatching from the police. Also, it cannot be believed that all alleged criminals could snatch a pistol from trained police officers," Jwadder said in his complaint.

It may be mentioned here that three such incidents took place in Nagaon on July 11 when police fired at two alleged criminals in two separate incidents and killed a drug peddler and another person who was allegedly involved in cattle smuggling, arms smuggling and other crimes.

Jwadder further linked the spate of encounters with the recent statements of Assam chief minister where he had stated that the police should shoot at alleged criminals at legs which are permitted by law.

"After such a statement by the Chief Minister, now police are staging fake encounters with impunity,” alleged Jwadder.

Meanwhile, Opposition leaders in Assam have also expressed concern over the spate of encounters in the last two months and said that this will lead to dangerous ramifications of turning Assam into a police state by making law enforcers' triggers happy.

Congress state president Ripun Bora had earlier stated that the government must be aware that both the Supreme Court and the Gauhati High Court have ruled that no matter how dreaded criminals might be, they should be apprehended alive and the police have no right to open fire at them or kill them at will. While pleading that the actions of the Assam police are denying the rights of the alleged criminals to a fair trial, demanded immediate intervention of the NHRC in this regard.