‘Police Raj’: Congress Slams Assam Govt Over Information Displaying 72 Killed In Police Actions Since 2021 – News18

Final Up to date:March 04, 2025, 19:48 IST

One other set of paperwork confirmed {that a} complete of 136 folks have been killed throughout Assam in police motion since 2016, when the BJP got here to energy for the primary time

The opposition Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP authorities in Assam of working a “police raj” after official information tabled within the meeting revealed that 72 accused individuals have been gunned down and 220 injured in police actions since Himanta Biswa Sarma grew to become the chief minister in Could 2021.

The Congress additionally acknowledged that the Supreme Courtroom ought to take suo motu cognisance of the info whereas issuing a verdict in an ongoing case on alleged pretend encounters within the state.

Sarma, who additionally holds the house portfolio, tabled a set of official papers within the meeting on Monday, revealing that 256 police actions have been taken between Could 10, 2021 and February 23 this 12 months. Magisterial inquiries have been carried out in 175 circumstances however not in 81 others.

The federal government, nonetheless, registered police circumstances in every incident beneath related legal guidelines and as per tips of the Nationwide Human Rights Fee (NHRC).

Reacting to the info, Chief of Opposition Debabrata Saikia of the Congress stated that the apex court docket, which is already listening to a case on 171 alleged pretend encounters in Assam, ought to take cognisance of the most recent information and go for additional suo motu listening to earlier than announcing the decision.

“The SC ought to take cognisance of those newest info and open the case as a substitute of reserving the decision. This information ought to be considered suo motu,” Saikia advised PTI.

He alleged that the figures present that there’s a “complete police raj” within the state with none regard for the rule of legislation.

“We strongly condemn such a scenario. We now have been making an attempt to boost the matter within the meeting so many occasions, however solutions had at all times been evasive. Such killings of accused individuals are taking place as a result of the ruling occasion is utilizing the police for political good points,” Saikia stated.

The paperwork tabled within the Home confirmed that 38 folks have been killed whereas they have been in police remand. Moreover, 34 extra misplaced their lives in police motion whereas they have been in custody however earlier than being despatched to police remand.

Equally, 181 folks acquired bullet accidents in these incidents whereas they have been in police remand and 40 extra have been injured earlier than being despatched to police remand.

It was not identified precisely what number of of those incidents have been unilateral motion by the police and what number of have been encounters, when each side have been engaged in gunfights.

A year-wise breakup exhibits that the very best variety of folks have been killed in 2021, the 12 months when Sarma grew to become the CM of Assam. That 12 months, a complete of 31 folks misplaced their lives in 83 circumstances of police motion, each in remand and earlier than remand.

Additionally, 67 folks have been injured, together with 54 in police remand and 13 earlier than remand.

In 2021, magisterial inquiry was carried out in 52 circumstances, whereas no such probe was ordered in 31 incidents.

The subsequent 12 months, 18 accused have been gunned down, together with three earlier than their police remand. A complete of 79 others have been injured in 95 incidents, out of which magisterial probes have been carried out in 66.

In 2023, the paperwork confirmed that 13 accused have been gunned down, together with 9 earlier than remand. Moreover, 35 folks have been injured in 44 incidents, out of which magisterial probes have been ordered in 35 circumstances.

In 2024, 10 folks misplaced their lives, together with three earlier than police remand. A complete of 35 folks have been injured in 28 circumstances, out of which magisterial probes have been ordered in 21 incidents.

Within the present 12 months until February 23, no loss of life has been reported however 5 folks have been injured throughout police remand in six completely different situations. Out of those, magisterial probes have been ordered in just one case.

One other set of paperwork confirmed {that a} complete of 136 folks have been killed throughout Assam in police motion since 2016, when the BJP got here to energy for the primary time within the state.

Earlier, the excessive variety of shoot-outs whipped up a political furore with the opposition alleging that the Assam Police have turned “set off pleased” and have been indulging in “open killings” beneath the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led regime.

The Supreme Courtroom was on February 25 knowledgeable by the Assam authorities that the 2014 tips for investigating police encounters have been duly adopted within the state and pointless focusing on of safety forces was demoralising.

Following the submission, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh reserved the decision on a plea in search of an unbiased investigation over 171 alleged pretend police encounters in Assam between Could, 2021 and August, 2022, wherein 56 folks died, together with 4 in custody, and 145 have been injured.

The petitioner, Arif Md Yeasin Jwadder, had challenged a January 2023 order of the Gauhati Excessive Courtroom, which dismissed his PIL over the encounters by Assam Police.

In October final 12 months, the SC had termed the scenario “very severe” and sought particulars, together with on the probe carried out in these issues.

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – PTI)

Location :

Assam, India, India