Guwahati: The Indigenous People’s Forum (IPF) has strongly condemned the killing of three youths belonging to Hmar community in an alleged encounter with Assam Police in Cachar district on July 17.
Three Hmar youths- Lallungawi Hmar, Lalbiekkung Hmar and Joshua Lalringsang were gunned downed by police at Bhuban Hills jungles in Cachar district.
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The Cachar Superintendent of Police(SP) claimed the three were arrested on July 16 and later revealed information leading to an operation where “militants” were killed in a crossfire.
However, the IPF raises several questions about the official narrative, IPF general secretary L. Hlima Keivom and president L Kuki said in a statement.
Firstly, the group points out a discrepancy between the police account and videos circulating on social media.
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One video allegedly shows the youths being peacefully apprehended in an autorickshaw, not in combat gear as the police claim. Another reportedly shows them bound and taken away.
These inconsistencies, along with the sudden appearance of “bullet-riddled bodies” at the hospital morgue, have led the IPF to believe this is a case of extrajudicial killing.
“As per the statement of the SP , Cachar, ‘Three youths were arrested at Krishnapur Road around 4.30 PM on July 16, 2024 and were interrogated, during which they revealed that their counterparts were taking shelter in Bhuban Hills. A special operation was launched on the morning of July 17, 2024 around Bhuban Hills during which three militants wearing bulletproof jackets and helmets were apprehended after being injured in crossfire. Later, they were pronounced dead at the Silchar Medical College Hospital (SMCH)’.
“If the bullets riddled dead bodies at the SMCH were that of the so-called militants who were apprehended from the Bhuban Hills during the so-called special operation in the morning of July 17, 2024 after being injured from a cross firing, then where are the three youths who had been arrested the previous day? Where have they gone?” IPF questioned.
The forum demanded an impartial judicial inquiry and urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to investigate the deaths. They also sought compensation to be paid to the families of the deceased.