‘Our police could have exercised more restraint’: Assam CM’s Big Statement on Mukroh Firing Incident

In his first reaction to the Mukroh firing incident yesterday morning that left 6 people dead, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Assam Police “could have exercised more restraint”. The CM expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident and said that the firing by Assam Police appeared to be “unprovoked firing”.

“I think that there was no need for so much of firing. It seems to me some sort of unprovoked firing. The police could have been more restrained because loss of 5 human lives (one Assam forest guard also died taking the toll to 6) is painful for everyone,” the CM said speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the inaugural function of Lachit Divas celebrations in New Delhi to mark the 400th Birth Anniversary of the Ahom General and National Icon Lachit Barphukan.

“This is not an Assam Meghalaya border issue. Some people had left from the forest with a truckload of timber. The local forest protection force (FPF) stopped the truck and arrested 3 persons. The people in the nearby village got agitated and when our police personnel went there to bring back the truck, a clash followed between the agitated villagers and the Assam Police personnel,” Assam CM said sharing some details about the incident.

“We have already announced judicial probe. We have requested for a NIA or CBI probe into the entire incident. Police officials have been suspended, SP has been transferred. Assam government will do whatever is possible on its part with all sincerity. I spoke to Meghalaya Chief Minister 3-4 times yesterday,” the CM said.

“I requested for CBI probe even before Meghalaya did. We are not taking this as a prestige issue. If Assam Police personnel are guilty than they too would be investigated,” the CM said reiterating his government’s clear stand on the issue and its investigation.

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Underlining the fact that the Mukroh incident had no connection with the border dispute between the two states, the CM said that it was just a clash between the local people and the Assam Police and Assam forest department and local forest guards. “Border dispute has nothing to do with it,” the CM said.

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