‘Mistaken identity’: CID probe affirms wrong person killed in police encounter in Assam

The probe concluded that the deceased was not dacoit Kenaram Boro but a "small-time farmer" whom the police claimed was also a "hardened criminal"

A CID probe into the death of a person, suspected to be a dacoit, in a police encounter in Assam's Udalguri district affirmed that it was a case of "mistaken identity", a senior officer said on March 11.

The probe concluded that the deceased was not dacoit Kenaram Boro alias Kenaram Basumatary but a person identified as Dimbeswar Muchahary, who his family asserted was a "small-time farmer" but police claimed was also a "hardened criminal".

Police claimed that two policemen were also injured in a "shootout" that took place in Dhansirikhuti village in the Rowta area on February 24.

The body was initially handed over to Boro’s mother after she identified him as her son. However, after the final rites were conducted and the body was buried, Muchahary's family claimed it was their son.

A police complaint was filed, following which Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma directed the director general of police to order a CID probe, which began on March 2.

Subsequently, the body was exhumed, a DNA analysis was conducted and it was found that the body was of Muchahary and not of Boro, the police officer said.

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