CURIOUS PATTERN IN ASSAM POLICE FIRING ON CRIMINALS
The New Indian Express|October 27, 2024
THE image of Assam's BJP-led government was dented after the recent rap by the Supreme Court on the alarming number of police encounters in the state.
 PRASANTA MAZUMDAR
CURIOUS PATTERN IN ASSAM POLICE FIRING ON CRIMINALS

A whopping 171 cases were recorded in the first 15 months in which 56 people, including alleged militants, were killed and 139 others were wounded. A number of the cases involved individuals from a certain community It all began after Himanta Biswa Sarma took up the chief minister's mantle on May 10, 2021. People noticed a pattern when detenues murder, rape accused, alleged drug dealers, cattle smugglers etc, were increasingly shot at on their legs and injured by the police. The police explanation invariably was that they had to open fire as the persons were attempting to flee, sometimes after snatching guns of the personnel.

Political furore

The increasing number of the incidents had whipped up a political furore with the Congress alleging that the police turned "trigger-happy" under the Sarma-led government. The party feared that Assam would soon turn into a police state. Other opposition parties viewed the incidents as "open killings", alleging that petty criminals were "silenced" to protect their bosses running illegal syndicates. Almost all opposi tion parties questioned how these detenues could snatch rifles from trained police personnel.

In July 2021, Sarma justified the series of encounters. He had stated 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. He also stated that the attacks on police personnel would be retaliated, adding "extreme steps" as per the law would be taken to stop such criminals. Speaking in the Assembly, the CM had appealed to all legislators to send a message that the House is against any form of crime. He congratulated the Assam police force but asked it to not torture innocent people. "You have full operational liberty as long as you fight the criminals as per the law," he had stated.

Controversial incidents

Esta historia es de la edición October 27, 2024 de The New Indian Express.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición October 27, 2024 de The New Indian Express.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESSVer todo
1K CM Pharmacies to be opened on February 24
The New Indian Express

1K CM Pharmacies to be opened on February 24

MINISTER for Cooperation K R Periyakaruppan on Tuesday announced that 1,000 ‘Mudalvar Marunthagam’ (Chief Minister’s Pharmacy) outlets, which will sell generic medicines at subsidised rates, will be inaugurated by Chief Minister M K Stalin on February 24.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
Tariff not a hurdle for Indo-US trade deal, say officials
The New Indian Express

Tariff not a hurdle for Indo-US trade deal, say officials

WITH the sword of high tariff hanging over its head, the government believes that the issue of reciprocal tariff and Bilateral Trade Agreement with the US can be dealt with separately.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
Beauty In The Bare
The New Indian Express

Beauty In The Bare

RT isn't something you see on walls or stages; it fills everyday moments.

time-read
3 minutos  |
February 18, 2025
Holding areas, new SOPs to ease crowding at stns
The New Indian Express

Holding areas, new SOPs to ease crowding at stns

In the wake of the stampede at the New Delhi railway station on Saturday, the Ministry of Railways on Monday announced a slew of measures to prevent untoward incidents as it identified 60 railway stations across the country that experience high footfalls.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
Kasimedu harbour facelift work to be over in next few months
The New Indian Express

Kasimedu harbour facelift work to be over in next few months

WORKS are under way to transform the Chennai Fishing Harbour at Kasimedu under the ₹127-crore modernisation project.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
2 Flights Carrying 33 Gujaratis From US Land at Ahmedabad
The New Indian Express

2 Flights Carrying 33 Gujaratis From US Land at Ahmedabad

A group of 33 Gujaratis, part of the second batch of illegal Indian immigrant deportees from the US that landed in Amritsar, arrived at Ahmedabad on Monday.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
In rare gesture, PM receives Emir of Qatar personally
The New Indian Express

In rare gesture, PM receives Emir of Qatar personally

IN a rare display of warmth and a departure from usual protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally went to the airport on Monday to welcome the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, who arrived in India for a two-day visit.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
The New Indian Express

No end to Samsung protest, families join workers' agitation

FOR the first time after protests erupted again at the Samsung India unit near Sriperumbudur over the suspension of three workers, family members of the staff joined them in a protest held at the Bazaar Area of Sunguvarchatram on Monday morning.

time-read
2 minutos  |
February 18, 2025
I COULDN'T HAVE DONE QUEER WHILE I WAS DOING JAMES BOND
The New Indian Express Chennai

I COULDN'T HAVE DONE QUEER WHILE I WAS DOING JAMES BOND

Daniel Craig talks about portraying William Lee in Queer, while director Luca Guadagnino discusses experimentation, directing films back to back, and more

time-read
3 minutos  |
February 18, 2025
The New Indian Express

Beach sand: HC orders CBI probe, recovery of ₹5.8K cr

FINDING a strong case of collusion, corruption and connivance among politicians, officials and mining mafia in causing thousands of crores of rupees loss to the state exchequer in the excavation of beach sand minerals (BSM), the Madras High Court on Monday ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

time-read
2 minutos  |
February 18, 2025