SHILLONG, April 5 � Meghalaya Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary today reprimanded a gathering of Assam Rifles officials, including its DG 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 the Supreme Court-appointed committee which has reported that there were at least six human rights violations committed during operations conducted by the Assam Rifles together with Manipur Commandos.
The committee probed the alleged extra judicial killings in Manipur, which included the death of a 12-year-old boy.
Mooshahary said that the Assam Rifles must work on its relationship with the people of the North East as its area of responsibility is confined to the region.
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 North East for its service, but �such aberrations� (fake encounters) would �undo all its good work and alienate the people from the force.�
