Assam Encounter Deaths Rise To 17 In 3 Months As Dacoit Killed Trying To Escape

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier said that the police have been given "full operational liberty" under the ambit of the law to fight criminals.

A dacoit was killed in a police encounter when he attempted to escape from custody in Assam's Darrang district on Wednesday, a senior officer said. With the fresh encounter, a total of 17 accused people have been killed and 31 others injured in Assam as they allegedly attempted to evade arrest or escape from police custody since the Himanta Biswa Sarma government assumed office on May 10. The dacoit, who was the prime accused in several cases, was caught in Kharupetia in Dalgaon police station area. While being taken to the police station, he attempted to escape by attacking a policeman, following which other law enforcers retaliated, leading to his death on the spot, Superintendent of Police Sushant Biswa Sarma said. The dacoit was the prime accused in the murder of prominent advocate Binoy Kumar Ghosh (85), president of the Mangaldoi Chamber of Commerce and a key member of the district bar association, in 2014, the officer said, adding that the dacoit's body has been sent for post-mortem examination.