Assam: Hundreds of people protest killing of three Hmar youths in 'fake encounter', seek probe

Guwahati: Members of the Hmar community in Assam's Barak Valley region, on Monday staged a peaceful protest at Hmarkhawlien village in Lakhipur demanding an investigation into the alleged ‘extrajudicial’ killing of three youths of the community by police.

Three Hmar youths – Lalbiekkung Hmar, Joshua Hmar, and Lallungawi Hmar – were killed on July 17 under circumstances the community believes warrant serious investigation.

The three youths were reportedly apprehended by Assam Police on July 16. According to the Cachar Superintendent of Police, the three were killed in a crossfire with militants during a "special operation" the following day.

Rejecting the official account of a militant shootout, the Hmar community alleged foul play and extrajudicial killings.

They claimed that social media footage shows the three young men cooperating with police during their arrest and unarmed.

They further alleged that the men were later taken to an undisclosed location without any protective gear and then shown wearing Kevlar jackets only after their deaths, in an attempt to corroborate the police's version of events.

They said t that the conspicuous absence of any protective custody protocols during the arrest and the subsequent events leading to the deaths constitute extrajudicial killings.

To ensure an impartial probe, they're calling for an independent inquiry led by a senior police officer from outside Assam.

Additionally, they demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore each for the families and legal action against the police personnel involved in the alleged fake encounter and a post-mortem examination conducted by doctors from Mizoram.

The villagers sent a memorandum to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma through the SDO (Civil) of Lakhipur.