GUWAHATI, Aug 3 - The Gauhati High Court today directed the District Judge of Chirang to conduct a fresh inquiry into the 2008 police firing incident in Bengtol area (Chirang), during which five persons including a woman, were killed, while several others sustained injuries.
The court of Justice Hrishikesh Roy, after hearing both the sides, has asked the District Judge, Chirang to submit the report in six months.
Advocates Bijon Kumar Mahajan and Arshad Choudhury appeared on behalf of the petitioners (relatives of the deceased), while J Handique was the public prosecutor.
The inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the facts and circumstances leading to the police firing after an altercation took place between the police and the public when the former was trying to shift an unauthorised camp of the NDFB from the area.
The court, in a way, overlooked the inquiry report submitted by an Additional Deputy Commissioner of the district recently, wherein it was stated that the police had no choice but to resort to firing as the mob attacked the men in uniform. However, in the same report it was stated that the police neither used teargas nor resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, and instead resorted to firing.
After the death of five persons, including Babnuram Narzary, Monen Borgoyari, Binoy Basumatry, Geeta Narzary and Nirzon Narzary, a writ petition was filed, asking the court to fix responsibility and demanding adequate compensation from the government.
