Assam: Rights panel orders probe into rising number of police encounters

Guwahati: Taking suo moto cognizance of media reports of the rising number of police firing cases, the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has directed the state government to inquire into the incidents of police firing in which 12 militants and criminals were killed and five others were injured in the last two months.
The Commission has asked the principal secretary to submit the report within a month.
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.
In its order, the Commission referred to 11 incidents of police firing.
A Delhi based advocate, Arif Jwadder, complained with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Sunday and urged the Commission to take suo moto cognisance and institute a probe into incidents of police firing at militants and criminals.
The advocate cited 11 incidents of police firing that occurred between May 23 and July 8.
The opposition has also alleged that under the new government the police have become ‘trigger happy.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently endorsed the police action against the accused who try to escape and make an attempt to attack cops.