Cops could have exercised restraint at Mukroh: Assam CM 

Guwahati, Nov 23: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma  today said that “on his view, the state police had used force a tad arbitrarily” even as he termed the Mukroh firing as an incident that was triggered by an altercation between a section of villagers and forest guards.

Reacting to the media in New Delhi, Sarma said, “The issue is whether force (by police) was used disproportionately. The incident however has got nothing to do with the inter-state boundary. Assam-Meghalaya boundary has always been peaceful.”

Six people, including five villagers from Meghalaya, and an Assam forest guard, died in the incident that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.
Hinting that restraint could have been exercised by the Assam police, the chief minister said, “Force has been used. According to police, they have used force in defence. However, in my view, force has been used little arbitrarily. That should not have happened as lives have been lost. So we have ordered a judicial inquiry. The investigation has been referred to a central agency (CBI or NIA). Monetary compensation has been announced (for the victims' kin). Police personnel have been placed on suspension.”

Meanwhile, Indranil Baruah, commandant, 23rd Assam Police (IR) Battalion, Siloni, Karbi Anglong has replaced Imdad Ali, the superintendent of police, Hamren, West Karbi Anglong, who has been transferred and posted as commandant, 23rd Assam Police (IR) Battalion, Siloni, Karbi Anglong.

 “There was an altercation between the villagers and forest guards that resulted in the clash. But no one has encroached on the Assam side, neither was any encroachment being cleared. So I don’t know why the inter-state boundary  issue has been brought here,” the Assam chief minister, who had been in touch with his Meghalaya counterpart over phone, said.