Guwahati: A man, arrested on charges of rhino poaching, was shot dead by a team of Assam Police in the state’s Chirang district while he was allegedly trying to escape from police custody. The deceased, Nareswar Basumatary, was arrested by the Chirang police along with two of his accomplices near the Indo-Bhutan border on Sunday. Basumatary had reportedly confessed to being involved in two recent cases of rhino poaching in the Manas National Park of the state.
A country-made gun and ammunition were recovered from the possession of the trio. Later, their custody was handed over to the Special Task Force of the Assam Police.
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Following the confession of the accused, he was taken to the Indo-Bhutan border by a team of the Special Task Force to apprehend more people involved in the crime.
While on their way, Basumatary allegedly tried to escape from police custody and attacked the policemen accompanying him. The police reportedly had to fire Basumatary to stop him from fleeing.
Though the police immediately rushed Basumatary to the hospital, he died on the way.
The Assam government in an affidavit submitted before the Gauhati High Court earlier stated that 56 people have died and 145 others were injured in police action between May 2021 and August 2022.
On July 5, 2021, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma directed the state police to shoot criminals in their legs if they tried to flee from custody.
The opposition parties have been constantly accusing the Assam Police of indulging in “fake encounters” and resorting to extra-judicial killings in a bid to deliver instant justice ever since the BJP-led government came to power in Assam in May 2021. However, the state government has strongly opposed the opposition’s allegations.
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