Gauhati HC dismisses plea seeking probe into alleged custodial deaths of three Hmar men

The Gauhati High Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking an investigation into the alleged custodial deaths of three men from the Hmar community in Assam’s Cachar district.

Lallungawi Hmar, Lalbeikkung Hmar and Joshua were killed in an alleged gunfight with the police on July 17, 2024, a day after they were arrested on the suspicion of being militants.

The killings had triggered outrage in Assam and neighbouring Manipur.

Hmar groups had sought an investigation into the incident.

The families of the men had in August 2024 filed a petition in the High Court seeking an independent investigation into the alleged custodial deaths.

They had sought an independent director general of police from outside Assam or a senior police officer, independent of the Assam Police and the state government, to be appointed as the investigating officer.

In its order on Monday, a bench of Justices Kalyan Rai Surana and Susmita Phukan Khaund said that the investigation into the incident had been referred to the National Human Rights Commission and an additional superintendent of police in Hailakandi district.

“At this juncture, this court is of the opinion that it cannot be pre-empted that the investigating agency will conduct the investigation in a partisan manner and screen the police officials involved in extrajudicial killings,” the court added.

The bench also said that the petitioners...

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