Prima facie case of human rights violation: Assam HRC on Darrang Police Firing

Guwahati: The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has sought a reply from the Principal Secretary, Home & Political Department, as to whether a commission under the 'Commission of Enquiry Act-1952', is to be instituted to inquire into the incident that led to the police firing and the death of two people during the eviction in Darrang.

The AHRC has given 21 days for the Government of Assam to reply and added that the next course of action will be decided based on the response.

The commission on Thursday held that a prima facie case exists of alleged human rights violation during the recent eviction drive to take cognisance of the matter for inquiry.

The commission took up the issue after a complaint was filed by Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia.

"After perusing the aforesaid letter, a prima facie case of violation of human rights appears to exist to take cognizance of the matter for enquiry," the Commission said in its order on Thursday,

Before taking cognizance, it would be expedient to ask the Home Department to inform whether a Commission under the Commission of Enquiry Act, 1952, has been instituted to enquire into the incident that took place recently at Gorukhuti, Dholpur, in Darrang district, the order said.

The complaint was filed by Saikia on September 24 alleging human rights violation during the eviction drive carried out on September 21 and 23 which had left two people dead in police firing, including a 12-year-old boy, on the second day.

Another complaint was filed on the same day as Saikia's, given jointly by Nikhil Bharat Krishak Sabha, Jatiya Suraksha Mancha and Sanmeleeta Eikya Mancha, on the matter has also been taken on record by the Commission.