Assam cops on ‘encounter spree’: Plaint filed with NHRC

GUWAHATI: A Delhi-based lawyer hailing from Assam has lodged a complaint with the

National Human Rights Commission

(NHRC) against Assam police over a series of encounters that have taken place ever since the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government took charge two months ago. He also urged the rights body to take cognisance and institute an inquiry into these incidents.

Arif Jwadder

in his complaint to the rights body on Saturday said ‘small-time’ criminals were being shot at by police and the reason cited for such “fake encounters” was that they tried to “flee from police custody after snatching weapons”. Pointing out that over 20 such encounters had taken place recently,

Jwadder

said in his complaint that most of the people at the receiving end were alleged drug dealers and cattle smugglers. He added that a few of them have died on the spot which is a “violation of human rights”.