ASSAM RIFLE REPRIMANDED BY MEGHALAYA GOVERNOR

Meghalaya Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary today reprimanded a gathering of Assam Rifles officials, including its Director General, Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh for “targeting innocents” in fake encounters and stated such aberrations “cannot be accepted.”

In fact, the Governor expressed his displeasure during an investiture ceremony of the Assam Riles at the Raj Bhavan here today.

Mooshahary said he well appreciated the work done by the Assam Rifles, be it civic duties, counter-insurgency operations or undertaking other vital social responsibilities.

“I deeply appreciate your work in difficult situations, but in the name of encounters (with militants) if innocents are targeted then it cannot be accepted,” he told the stunned gathering of Assam Rifles officials.

The Meghalaya Governor was referring to  Supreme Court-appointed committee which has reported that there were at least six human rights violation committed during operations conducted by the Assam Rifles together with Manipur Commando.

The committee probed the alleged extra judicial killings in Manipur, which included the death of a 12-year-old boy. The committee compromised of former Supreme Court judge Santosh Hegde, Chief Election Commissioner of India, JM Lyngdoh and a senior police official.  

Mooshahary said that the Assam Rifles must work on its relationship with the people of the northeast as its area of responsibility is confined to the region.

The Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force in India.It was raised by the British in 1835 as the Cachar Levy and came to be known as Assam Rifles in 1917. 

The paramilitary force conducted counter-insurgency operations in insurgency-infested state of Manipur and others in northeast India. It also has the dual responsibility of guarding the Indo-Myanmar border.A unique feature of the force is that the officers are drawn from the Indian army whereas the soldiers are direct recruits.

“I was unhappy to read in the newspapers this morning about the Supreme Court-committee report on human rights violation. This inquiry has been conducted by distinguished people,” he said.

He added that the Assam Rifles and all other security agencies need to “introspect” on these extra judicial killings. “The Assam Rifles and the other security forces must introspect and correct these aberrations,” he advised the top officials of the Assam Rifles.

He reiterated that the Assam Rifles being the oldest paramilitary force in the country is respected by the people of the northeast for its service, but “such aberrations (fake encounters)” would “undo all its good work and alienated the people from the force.”