NHRC seeks report on Assam Police Encounters

Guwahati: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday asked Assam’s Director General of Police to submit an action taken report (ATR) within four weeks on a complaint alleging fake encounters by the state police.

Following the complaint filed by Arif Jwadder, a Delhi-based lawyer the NHRC directed its Registry to send a copy of the complaint to the DGP, Assam calling for an ATR within four weeks.

The commission, in an email sent to the DGP, also asked whether they had received any notice, order etc. from the State Human Rights Commission on the same issue. If so, provide a copy in that matter within four weeks.

Meanwhile, the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) had taken Suo moto cognizance of media reports in mid-July which said 12 accused people were killed by police in shoot-outs in the preceding two months.

The state government’s Principal Secretary of the Home and Political department had been asked to order an enquiry to find out the facts and circumstances which leads the death and injuries of the accused in police firing while allegedly attempting to flee detention.

The Complaint was filed by the advocate on July 16 before the NHRC, alleging a rise in the number of alleged fake police encounters in the state since the new BJP-led government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assumed charge in May, and seeking the intervention of the Commission in the matter.

It may be mentioned that since May 10 this year in the state there were at least 24 accused who have been killed and 39 others injured when police fired on them as they reportedly tried to escape from custody.

Jwadder further claimed that as all the injured or dead persons were not militants so they were not trained to use pistols and it is very unlikely that they could snatch pistols from police officers who shot them dead at the spot.

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