"State-Sponsored Terrorism": Tribal Body Condemns Assam Encounter (image:x.com/bonetsep)
The Hmar Inpui, the apex body of the Hmar tribe, condemned the “whimsical-orchestrated extra-judicial killings” of three Hmars by the Assam police on July 16. The three Hmars- Lallungawi Hmar (21) and Lalbikung Hmar (33) from Cachar and Joshua (35) from Manipur’s Churachandpur district were killed within 24 hours of their alleged arrest, the tribal body added.
“The act is an utter disregard to the judicial institution by persons who are expected to uphold the supremacy of law. The extra-judicial killing is unlawful, inhumane, unnecessary and, illegitimate. This is purely State-sponsored terrorism. Extra-judicial killings should have no place in a liberal and rights-respecting democracy,” the organisation said in the statement.
Also Read | “Still In The Preparation Stage”: Karnataka Halts Quota Bill For Private Jobs
Three suspected Hmar militants were killed on Wednesday in a fierce encounter with Assam Police, officials said. The incident happened in the Bhuban Hills on the Assam-Mizoram border. Three police personnel were also injured in the alleged crossfire between police and the rebels. The police also states that the terrorist group was involved in drug trafficking.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the incident in a post on X. “In an early morning operation, @cacharpolice killed 3 Hmar militants from Assam and neighbouring Manipur. Police also recovered 2 AK rifles, 1 other rifle, and 1 pistol,” Sarma wrote on X.
In an early morning operation, @cacharpolice killed 3 Hmar militants from Assam and neighbouring Manipur. Police also recovered 2 AK rifles, 1 other rifle, and 1 pistol. @gpsinghips
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 17, 2024
However, in a recent X post, Vijaita Singh Deputy Editor of Hindu states that though Assam Chief Minister says extremists died in an encounter killing, “A video has surfaced, where they are intercepted by the police on July 16 in an auto rickshaw, hours before the alleged encounter.”
Assam CM says three Hmar “militants” from Assam and Manipur killed in an encounter with Cachar Police in the early hours on July 17.
A video has surfaced, where they are intercepted by the police on July 16 in an auto rickshaw, hours before the alleged encounter. Cachar is close… pic.twitter.com/j5s2FUDENz— Vijaita Singh (@vijaita) July 18, 2024
Assam’s Cachar district is near to Jiribam in Manipur, where ethnic violence erupted recently, Singh added. Similar posts appear in various social media handles as well.
Also Read | Nearly 26,000 Goans Surrendered Passports In 10 Years: CM Pramod Sawant
The state police did not issue any official statement concerning the incident. However, the sources within the police told the media that the three militants belonging to Hmar People’s Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) were arrested on Tuesday and they were taken to Bhuban Hills for a search operation.
Following, a special operation was launched on Wednesday by the Police along with the arrested militants. When they approached the Hills, the hiding militants opened fire and resulting in exchange of fires which lasted for about an hour. According to police reports, three arrested people who sustained bullet wounds later declared dead in the hospital.
