Writ Petition filed in Gauhati High Court over alleged Extra-Judicial Killings of Kuki-Zo Youth by Assam Police

A Writ Petition (Crl.), under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, has been filed over the alleged extra-judicial killing of three Kuki-Zo (Hmar) youth on July 17, 2024 by the Assam Police.

The petitioners stated that the three deceased persons namely Lallungawi Hmar S/o Lalremsang Hmar of K. Bethel Village, Bhunankhal Dikush, Lakhipur, Cachar District, Assam; Lalbieksang Hmar S/o Lalthavel Hmar of K. Bethel Village, Bhunankhal Dikush, Lakthipur , Cachar district, Assam; and Joshua Lalrinsang S/o Tianghnengthang Hmar of Senvon, Tipaimukh Sub-Division, Pherzawl, Manipur, were arrested on 16.07.2024 at about 4.30 P.M. from Ganganagar Part-VI, Krishnapur Road, Cachar, Assam by 6 (six) personnel of Assam Police and alleged that all those detained persons were taken out from Kachudharam Police Station in the early hours of morning on 17.07.2024 after which they had been killed in extra judiciary execution.

The counsel for the petitioners has submitted that one of the prayers in the writ petition is to direct the respondent authorities to have the postmortem of all the dead bodies conducted by the doctors outside of Assam. It was also submitted that as per the instruction, the family members of the deceased have been informed by the District and Police Administration to take away the dead bodies from the morgue by July 24.

In view of the nature of the allegations made in the writ petition, the Court has issued a notice to the respondents (Assam Government) whether any postmortem has been conducted or not in respect of the dead bodies and should produce the post-mortem report, if available, on the next date of hearing.

The Court also directed the Senior Government Advocate to obtain reports from the police in the matter and should produce the same before the Court in a sealed cover for the perusal of the Court.

Till the orders are passed on the next date of hearing, the Court instructed the District and Police Administration of Cachar District to keep the dead bodies in the Morgue of SMCH, Silchar.

The next hearing is fixed on 26.07.2024.