Police could have shown more restraint: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Cabinet decision: SOP on use of lethal weapons along border

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Cabinet condemned the Mukroh firing along the Assam-Meghalaya border yesterday and expressed its deepest sympathy to the bereaved family members.

The State Cabinet met in New Delhi today and directed the Assam Home Department to prepare an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) on using lethal weapons in vulnerable situations along inter-state boundaries.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma felt that 'the police could have shown more restraint before firing bullets to quell the mob'. "It is not a border dispute but a clash between a few Assam police personnel and the villagers of Meghalaya," he said.

Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Minister Jayanta Mallahbaruah said, "The Cabinet requested Justice Rumi Phukan to inquire into the Mukroh incident and submit the report within 16 days. Since the Assam Police is involved in the incident, we have decided the CBI conduct an inquiry into the incident. The judicial inquiry will follow its course."

Mallahbaruah said, "Since we are resolving all boundary issues with the neighbouring states, we don't want to allow any Mukroh-like situation in border areas anymore. Our Home Department will prepare an SOP for the Assam Police and Forest personnel using lethal weapons while dispersing mobs. We don't want to counter what Meghalaya says as we want to keep our cordial relationship with Meghalaya to resolve all boundary issues. Both the Chief Ministers are talking to each other on the present situation."

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