Srinagar, July 15, 2021 (PPI-OT): In India, the disturbed state, Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has directed the state government to undertake an inquiry into the facts and circumstances leading to the death and injuries of persons and submit a report by August 7.

Assam has seen a rise in encounter killings since BJP leader, Himanta Biswa Sarma took charge as Chief Minister in May 2020. As many as 12 persons have been killed in several incidents of police firing in Assam.

The AHRC said, it is reported that six Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) activists and two members of United People’s Revolutionary Front (UPRF) were killed as per police claims in two separate encounters with police in Karbi Anglong District.

Four other were killed by police in different encounters, the AHRC said, quoting media reports.

In another incident, Syed Ali, alias Patha, was injured in police firing at Morigaon while he tried to escape from police custody, according to police.

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

In his July 10 complaint, Jwadder said that petty criminals were being shot and the reason mentioned for such “fake encounters” was that they tried to “flee from police custody, snatching pistols”.

More than 20 such “encounters” have taken place in the past two months and most of the persons at the receiving end were alleged drug dealers and cattle lifters with a few having died on the spot, he said.

“Recently, Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also holds the Home Department, said in a police conference that police should shoot alleged criminals at legs, which is permitted by law. After such a statement by the Chief Minister, now police are staging fake encounters with impunity,” Jwadder said.

Justifying the encounters, the BJP government and its chief Minister, Sarma had said on July 5 that shooting criminals “should be the pattern” if they attempt to escape from custody or try to snatch guns from the police.

Congress and other opposition parties have, however, strongly condemned the recent incidents of “encounters”. State Congress President, Ripun Bora said Sarma’s remark that firing upon criminals in custody by the police or while in chase should be a “pattern” has dangerous ramifications of turning Assam into a police state and making the Indian security personnel trigger-happy, thus setting a dangerous trend of disregarding human rights concerns.

“Sarma should be aware that the Supreme Court and the high courts have ruled that no matter how dreaded a criminal may be, he should be apprehended alive.

“The police have no right to fire at criminals. They can open fire only for self-defence and that too below the knee,” Bora, an Indian Rajya Sabha member, told the media.

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