ASSAM BORDER VIOLENCE: ‘POLICE USED EXCESS FORCE
GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa said on Wednesday that the state police personnel used excess force than needed that led to the firing incident on Tuesday at Assam-Meghalaya border which claimed lives of five Meghalaya residents and one forest guard from Assam. “I believe our police should not have fired so many rounds. It appears to be unprovoked firing. Police should have controlled themselves...On our part, we have done what is required... If our personnel are found to be guilty, they would face action,” Sarma told reporters.
GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa said on Wednesday that the state police personnel used excess force than needed that led to the firing incident on Tuesday at Assam-Meghalaya border which claimed lives of five Meghalaya residents and one forest guard from Assam.
Talking to journalists in New Delhi on sidelines of the 400th birth anniversary celebrations of Ahom general Lachit Barphukan, he stated the firing is not the outcome of a border dispute issue between Assam and Meghalaya, as is being reported in some sections of media.
“Some people had cut forest trees in the border area and were carrying them. Our forest personnel intercepted the vehicle and arrested three persons. When our police went to bring the vehicle they were surrounded by villagers which in turn led to the firing incident,” said Himanta.
“I believe our police should not have fired so many rounds. It appears to be unprovoked firing. Police should have controlled themselves a bit. On our part, we have done what is required when such an unfortunate incident happen. If our personnel are found to be guilty, they would face action,” he added.
While Meghalaya maintains that Assam forest and police personnel resorted to “unprovoked firing” at civilians inside Meghalaya territory at West Jaintia Hills district of the state.
On the other hand, Assam claims that the incident took place in West Karbi Anglong district when a forest and police party who were trying to apprehend timber smugglers were attacked by “unknown miscreants” and were forced to resort to firing to save themselves.
Both governments have announced ex-gratia of ₹ 5 lakh each to next of kin of victims killed in Tuesday’s incident. The Assam government has transferred the SP of West Karbi Anglong and suspended a police and forest officer.
A Meghalaya delegation led by chief minister Conrad Sangma is expected to meet Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday and request him to hand over probe of the incident to either Central Bureau of Investigation or the National Investigation Agency. “I have also discussed with the Assam CM about the incident.
We demand that a central agency should investigate. The National Investigative Agency (NIA) or Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should inquire into and investigate the incident. The Assam government has also agreed and they will cooperate and they will also ask the Government of India for the same,” Sangma was reported as saying by ANI.
On Wednesday, the Assam cabinet, which had a meeting in New Delhi decided to request the CBI to conduct a probe into the incident. “Since the incident involves people and officials of both states, the cabinet also decided to request the Union home ministry to hand over investigation of the incident to the CBI,” said minister Jayanta Malla Baruah while disclosing the decisions taken at the meeting. The cabinet handed over judicial probe of the incident to Justice (Retd.) Rumi Phukan, a retired judge of Gauhati High Court and asked her to submit a report within 60 days.
Further, the state home and forest departments have been directed to prepare a list of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to deal with such sensitive issues at the border.
“That would include how police and personnel from other departments should proceed when they are faced with a situation at the border like what happened on Tuesday or related to some other issue. It would also mention when to use lethal weapons and what measures should be taken prior to that,” Baruah said.