Civilians Killed, Youth Abducted by Police and Security Forces in Assam - Friends for Freedom

Truck driver shot dead
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By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, July 9: A truck driver died on the spot and a handyman sustained serious bullet injuries when the PSO of CID SP Mridula-nanda Sarma shot at them at Lokhra Chariali in Guwahati tonight. According to sources, the truck had a collision with the car of the SP.
The Sentinel, 10 July, 2009
http://www.sentinelassam.com/main_news.php?sec=1&subsec=0&id=16045&dtP=2009-07-10&ppr=1

Civilians’ deaths raise doubt over Assam Police credibility
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, July 10 – The bizarre incident of Gadadhar Rai (21), the personal security officer of an SP (CID), opening fire on two civilians (driver of the truck and the handyman) on Thursday night, leading to the duo’s death has once again raised serious doubts about the credibility of the Assam Police and its so-called think-tank.

But who exactly is responsible for the Thursday night tragedy? The SP, the PSO, or the police think-tank?

“There is no denying that the PSO had committed a heinous crime but he alone cannot be held responsible for the incident because he, in a way did, what he has been trained for,” claims a section of retired police officials.

“It is wrong to depute a commando as a PSO and if that practice is not stopped, such incidents would keep on recurring as the commandos are groomed to have an altogether different mental set-up,” experts requesting anonymity said.

“A commando is someone trained ‘to kill’ and cannot be used as a substitute for a havildar, who is best suited for the PSO job. Moreover, how justified is to arm a PSO with an AK series rifle, which shoots multiple bullets within a fraction of a second,” said an expert.

“May be it has become a status symbol for some people to seek a commando than a havildar as their PSO, and that too armed with a sophisticated assault rifle than a carbine,” he pointed out.

Police, meanwhile, has informed that the SP was not present in the shootout site and it was Rai, the PSO, who chased the truck on a two-wheeler after the truck hit the Scorpio, in which the SP and his wife were travelling, near the entrance of the Games Village (official residence of the SP).

But, had the PSO chased the truck at the instance of the SP and if not, why was he not stopped by the SP then?

Moreover, the SP and his wife got themselves admitted to the GMCH today after they reportedly sustained injuries during the incident. But, it is difficult to believe that the PSO entrusted with the job of providing security to the SP, left both the SP and his wife stranded with injuries.

Few other questions such as, whether the SP who was returning from the residence of another senior police official making a personal visit and the PSO were under the influence of alcohol, are yet to be answered.

According to PC Saloi, Senior Superintendent of Police (City) the PSO after getting down from the vehicle and finding a two-wheeler near him decided to chase down the truck. Rai then shot at the tyre of the truck near Lokra and just as the driver of the truck along with the handyman allegedly tried to hit him with some sticks, he opened fire on both of them with his AK 47 rifle that led to the death of the driver on the spot, while the handyman sustained serious bullet injuries and succumbed to his injuries later.

Saloi also informed that the SP not finding the PSO for too long then asked the driver of the Scorpio to look for him.

Meanwhile, Rai, the PSO, has been arrested and his weapon (AK 47) seized.

The driver and the handyman of the truck have been identified as Krishna Chandra Tripuria and Saining of East Khasi Hills.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jul1109/City

Two Army men arrested
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From our Correspondent
JORHAT, July 9: Two Army men, Major ES Binud and W Ramesh Singh hailing from 33 Manipur Asom Rifles have been arrested by Titabor police in connection of a case of kidnap and attempt to murder of two youths here today. Police sources said that, the Army men in civil dress picked up one Bhargob Khound of Titabor and got off at Kamarbondha area where they picked up another Debabrot Bordoloi and tried to take him away. But Debabrot jumped from their vehicle at Amgurikhat area near Kamarbandha and was rescued by the locals. Afterwards, Titabor police arrested the two Army men and recovered two 9 mm pistols and some ammunition from their possession. Both the youths are the students of Titabor Pragjyotika School. A case no. 72/09 was registered at Titabor police station against the Army men. However, after hours of questioning by police, the Army men confessed that, they found the youths by following a mobile number called to them.

The Sentinel

http://www.sentinelassam.com/state.php?sec=2&subsec=2&ppr=1&dtP=2009-07-10