Assam Police should not become 'political tools': Assam Jatiya Parishad

GUWAHATI: The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has come out swinging against the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam government a 'new pattern' of encounters in the state and urged the state police not to become political tools.

Addressing the media here today, AJP general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan said that his party has been accusing the former BJP-led government of running 'syndicates', but the "activities of the current BJP government proves that our statement was true."  The current chief minister (Biswa Sarma) has himself accepted the prevalence of cow syndicate in the state, said Bhuyan.

Bhuyan also reserved some choice words for the Assam police's new practice of firing at criminals attempting to flee.

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"There have been 30 encounters in the last 40 days. Maybe this is the first time it has occurred since independence. We want a crime-free society. We will not oppose even the death sentence to criminals of serious crimes. Our Constitution dictates how the security personnel should act. Meanwhile, the chief minister has asked the officials to fire if the suspects attempt to flee. One criminal was reportedly shot when he tried to flee with an SDPO's pistol. How did he manage to grab it? Is the police force getting weak?" Bhuyan said.

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He also claimed that some of the accounts of criminals' attempts to flee seemed "suspicious." "Are these criminals being shut up by being fired upon to protect the identities of the actual kingpins," Bhuyan further questioned.

Claiming that this pattern poses a threat to "democracy", Bhuyan added that police officials can only open fire to save their own lives or while dealing with criminals eligible for capital punishment (under article 46 of the CRPC).

Bhuyan has termed the chief minister's encouragement of firing as "unfortunate" and claimed that the entire thing reeks of a conspiracy. "The chief minister will not be allowed to create an autocratic with this new pattern for his own political gains,' Bhuyan further warned.

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