GUWAHATI, April 17 - Ordering a probe into the matter of death of 11 persons due to electrocution in Pengeree of Tinsukia district, the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has given notice to the Chief Secretary, Assam to cause an inclusive inquiry into the incident and submit the report within 30 days.
A division bench of the AHRC comprising its chairperson Dr Justice Aftab Hussain Saikia and member Tarun Phookan in its order in the AHRC case No. 1651/17/16-17, asked the Chief Secretary to cause the probe into circumstances leading to electrocution after a high voltage overhead electric cable snapped and fell on an irate mob, on April 11.
The cable was reportedly hit by police gunshots made in order to disperse around 10,000 agitated tea garden workers, who thronged the police station equipped with bows, arrows and other weapons.
The mob was demanding the police to hand over some accused already arrested in connection with the abduction and murder of one Sunni Garh and his daughter-in-law Lakhi Moni Garh. Both were abducted on April 6, 2016 at midnight from their residence at Nalani No. 2 under Pengeree police station in Tinsukia district.
The AHRC took suo motu cognizance of the incident in view of the news published in both English and vernacular dailies.
�Over 20 others were injured in the said incident after some of the protesters jumped into a nearby canal..., but were electrocuted by the water that came in contact with the fallen live electric wire. The mob completely vandalized the Pengeree police station after the incident injuring a number of police personnel,� an AHRC statement said.
The injured protesters were immediately rushed to the nearby hospitals as well as the AMCH, Dibrugarh.
�The enquiry committee so constituted will fix responsibility in the civil/police official(s) and/or the police personnel, if any, and suggest relief and rehabilitation measures necessarily required to be taken on the part of the State Government, including adequate monetary compensation, to the next of kin of the dead as well as the injured persons respectively,� the statement added.
The same division bench of the AHRC also took suo motu cognizance of the news published in local dailies on April 12, 2016, about the spot-death of one Abdul Rashid at the No. 123 Safakamar Prathomik Vidyalaya polling station of Sarbhog constituency in Barpeta district.
The incident occurred during the second phase of the State Assembly elections on April 11, after some CRPF personnel engaged at the polling station indiscriminately lathi-charged the voters at about 9:30 am over their alleged indiscipline in queueing up before casting votes.�
The AHRC served notice to the Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Assam, Home Department, to cause an effective enquiry to be conducted into the circumstances that led to the said incident and submit the report within 30 days.
