Security forces in Assam ordered to take village headmen along on missions

GUWAHATI: Following the custodial death of a suspected militant in Jorhat, Assam chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna said that the government has asked the security forces going for operation to take along village headmen or line head in the tea estates.
Kumar along with the Director of police, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, attended the Unified Command in Guwahati on Tuesday.

Krishna said, “From now onwards the police or para military going on an operation will have to take the village headmen or the head of line in the tea estate along with them. They also have to ensure that the person has to be medically checked up before interrogation.”

On Sunday, the Army from 244 Field Regiment based in Charaideo arrived with a requisition informing of the presence of a member of ULFA-l/NSCN-IM in Borholla and also requested a police representative to conduct a search operation in search of that cadre.

Accordingly a police team went to assist the army team to conduct the search operation in Kakodonga area.

During the search, forces apprehended the suspected cadre, Jayanta Bora, and brought him to Borholla Police station.

Bora was feeling uneasy and hence he was immediately admitted at Borholla CHC. The attending doctor gave preliminary treatment and referred him to Jorhat Medical College and hospital (JMCH). He was declared dead at JMCH. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident.

Bora was suspected to be cadre of anti talk ULFA which is also known as ULFA (Independent).

Mahanta said departmental proceedings are initiated against those police officer involved in the incident. “Legal action will be taken against those involved in the incident.”