As many as 12 people died in police custody and 49 other people were injured between June 1, 2021 and December 3, 2021 in Assam, said Chief Minister Himanta Biswas Sarma on March 21, 2022. Sarma’s statement was in response to a question in the Assembly from MLA Akhil Gogoi regarding deaths and fake encounters of accused persons in police custody.
On Monday, Gogoi asked the official holding the Home Ministry portfolio for a list of the accused who died or suffered injuries in custody, along with details of magisterial inquiry into such cases. Further, he asked about how many of these cases were followed with FIRs and actions taken.
The government provided information on over 60 such incidents over seven months. Of these, five deaths occurred in Kokrajhar district. As per the department information, 32-year-old Sirajul Daula died at the Mankachar police station while 28-year-old Aminul Hoque and Monirul Hoque of the same age were killed at the Lakhipur police station.
The administrative district is located in the Bodoland Territorial Region of the state and includes a detention camp where many people remain imprisoned.
Similarly, 23-year-old Jwngshar Muchahary died at the Serfanguri police station and Janak Jr. Brahma of the same age died at the Bagibari police station. Although no FIRs were filed after these deaths, a magisterial inquiry was called in all these incidents.
In Jorhat, Sobir Ansary and Niraj Das were killed in custody. Here too, a magisterial inquiry was called but the reports are yet to be received. FIRs were also filed in both cases with an IPC section on negligent death filed in Das’s incident.
Aside from these two districts, there were custodial deaths in Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Karimganj, Karbi Anglong. In the latter’s case, no FIR was filed for the death of Kanwaldeep Singh Sidhu.
Regarding magisterial inquiries, Sarma replied, “The magistrate enquiry was set up in 16 cases. As a case is going on in the Guwahati High Court for those persons who died or injured in police custody under the PIL… the report of magistrate enquiry couldn’t be provided on these cases.”
The report was still pending in as many as six of these inquiries. The list of these attacks may be seen below.
Related:
Assam: Could exclusion from NRC could lead to cancellation of Aadhaar?
SC questions Centre about man held in a Detention Centre for 7 years!