Hahkhati encounter: 3 encounter survivors lodge FIR against SP Mrinal Deka, 12 other cops

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 12, 2024

In a significant development, three survivors of the Hahkhati encounter in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district filed a First Information Report (FIR) on Thursday at Dholla Police Station against Mrinal Deka, the then superintendent of police (SP) of Sadiya Police District, along with 12 other police personnel.

The survivors accused the SP along with several other police personnel of conspiring to kill them during a fake encounter.

The three victims of Tinsukia fake encounter Dipjyoti Neog, Manuj Buragohain and Biswanath Borgohain accused Mrinal Deka, then SP, Sadiya Police district; Bibhas Das, Additional SP, Tinsukia; Inspector Si-in Sing Timung, OC, Sadiya Police Station; SI (UB) Debasis Dekari, OC, Dholla Police Station and 10 to 12 other unknown police policemen in the FIR.

Three person went on a picnic to a location in Arunachal Pradesh, travelling in a Maruti 800 car owned by Buragohain. The journey began around 11 am after three of them met at a petrol pump and set off for the picnic spot, located about 30 km from the main town. They arrived at the site at around 2:30 pm, where they encountered other people who were also picnicking, several of whom they recognized as bus conductors.

During the picnic, the group consumed alcohol, danced, and enjoyed themselves. Meanwhile, Munmi Borgohain, Biswanath’s wife, repeatedly tried to reach him by phone. However, due to his intoxication, Biswanath did not respond to her calls.

The FIR stated that around 6 pm, after finishing their picnic, the group began their journey back home in their Maruti 800 car. Since they were intoxicated, they drove slowly and made several stops along the way. At one point, feeling drowsy and with the car running low on fuel, they decided to stop and sleep inside the vehicle.

“However, at around 9 pm, Assam Rifles personnel found them sleeping in the car and took them to their camp for interrogation. At the camp, the troops questioned the group, suspecting they might be planning to join a militant outfit. When the group denied the accusation, the soldiers showed them pictures of individuals, asking if they recognized anyone. The group maintained that they did not know any of the people in the photos,” the FIR stated.

According to the survivors’ account, after being taken to the Assam Rifles camp, an Assam Police team, led by SP Mrinal Deka, arrived and joined the Assam Rifles personnel in drinking. After some time, the survivors were instructed to sit in a police vehicle.

Dipjyoti and Manuj were in the same vehicle, while Biswanath was placed in a separate one. A convoy of six police vehicles, carrying around 15 police personnel, then proceeded towards Hahkhati Reserve Forest.

“Upon reaching the forest, the survivors were forcibly removed from the vehicles and made to lie face-down on the ground. According to the survivors, SP Mrinal Deka began shooting them one by one at close range, targeting their legs. Dipjyoti was shot first, followed by Manuj, and then Biswanath,” the FIR also alleged.

The convoy, consisting of six police vehicles and around 15 police personnel, headed towards the Hahkhati Reserve Forest. Once there, the survivors were forced out of the vehicles and made to lie face-down on the ground.

The FIR alleged that SP Mrinal Deka shot each of them in the legs at close range—Dipjyoti first, followed by Manuj, and then Biswanath. This incident forms the core of their complaint, accusing the police of a planned attempt on their lives.