Guwahati, Jan 16: Three survivors of the Hahkhati encounter in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district—Dipjyoti Neog, Manuj Buragohain, and Biswanath Borgohain—filed a complaint before the Tinsukia District and Sessions Judge on Thursday against the Investigation Officer (IO) alleging a lackadaisical investigation by him and failure to follow due legal procedures.
The complaint was filed under the PUCL vs. State of Maharashtra guidelines set by the Supreme Court.
On September 12, 2024, the three survivors accused Mrinal Deka (then SP of Sadiya Police District), Additional SP Bibhas Das (Tinsukia), Inspector Si-in Sing Timung (OC, Sadiya Police Station), SI (UB) Debasis Dekari (OC, Dholla Police Station), and 10-12 other unidentified police personnel of conspiring to execute a fake encounter.
In their latest complaint, the survivors claimed that the IO assigned to the case is junior to the accused SP Mrinal Deka, rendering him incompetent to carry out an impartial investigation. They further alleged that the Assam Police Commandant, without proper authority, recorded statements from victims even though the case had already been transferred to the CID headquarters.
Additionally, four months after the FIR was lodged, crucial witness statements remain unrecorded, raising concerns over investigative negligence.
According to the FIR, the survivors accused the police of attempting to stage their execution. The three men had gone on a picnic to Arunachal Pradesh in a Maruti 800 car. After consuming alcohol, they began their journey back home but stopped to rest inside their vehicle. Around 9 PM, Assam Rifles personnel discovered them sleeping in the car and took them to their camp for interrogation, suspecting them of militant affiliations.
Despite denying any such links, the survivors were allegedly subjected to questioning, with security forces presenting them with photographs of unknown individuals. Shortly afterwards, an Assam Police team led by SP Mrinal Deka arrived at the Assam Rifles camp and allegedly joined the troops in drinking before taking the three men into custody.
The survivors claim they were transported in police vehicles to Hahkhati Reserve Forest, where they were forcibly removed from the vehicles and made to lie face-down on the ground. They allege that SP Mrinal Deka personally shot each of them in the legs at close range—Dipjyoti first, followed by Manuj and Biswanath.
The complaint filed in Tinsukia Sessions Court urges judicial intervention to ensure a fair and independent investigation. The survivors seek legal action against the accused officers and demand an inquiry free from the influence of those implicated in the case.
