AJP Calls for Chief Minister's Inclusion in Investigation of Extra-Judicial Killings
Demand for Accountability in Assam
Guwahati, May 29: The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has urged that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma be included in the ongoing investigation into extra-judicial killings in Assam, which is being carried out by the Assam Human Rights Commission following a directive from the Supreme Court.
AJP leaders, Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Jagadish Bhuyan, highlighted that the Chief Minister, who also oversees the Home Department, had previously instructed police in July 2021 to shoot suspected criminals below the knee. They argue that this controversial order has contributed to a significant increase in police encounters throughout the state.
According to the AJP, Sarma convened a meeting with police officials at the Assam Administrative Staff College in Khanapara, Guwahati, where he directed them to target criminals' legs. This directive was reportedly given in the presence of the then Director General of Police, GP Singh. Following this, there was a notable rise in encounter killings in Assam.
The Chief Minister allegedly stated to the press that this would become the new operational approach for the Assam Police, a remark that the AJP claims initiated a troubling trend of extra-judicial actions.
The AJP welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to investigate these encounters, viewing it as a crucial move towards reinstating the rule of law and ensuring accountability.
“Given that extra-judicial shootings and killings surged after Chief Minister Sarma's directive as Home Minister, and with the Supreme Court now expressing concern and ordering an investigation, it is only fitting that the individual who issued this unlawful directive be included in the inquiry,” stated Gogoi and Bhuyan.
The AJP, which has consistently opposed extra-judicial killings, believes that the Supreme Court's involvement validates its long-standing concerns regarding the deterioration of legal and constitutional standards under the current administration.