Mr Sarma also advocated zero-tolerance to crime against women, well-equipped law-keepers, error-free chargesheet writing, among other things.
According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, shooting at criminals “should be the pattern” if they attempt to escape from custody. The BJP leader on Monday, while justifying a series of shootouts reported from his state in recent times, also advocated zero-tolerance to crime against women, well-equipped law-keepers, error-free chargesheet writing, among other things.
The Chief Minister, while interacting for the first time with all Officers-in-Charge (OCs) of the state’s many police stations on “Redefining Policing Standards in Assam”, issued directions to strictly deal with crimes against women and show zero tolerance.
Mr Sarma stressed that chargesheets for all rape, molestation, and assault cases must be filed at the earliest, along with those in murder, arms, and drugs smuggling cases, to ensure speedy trial.
However, Mr Sarma’s backing for shooting the criminals garnered many eyeballs.
“If an accused tries to snatch the service gun and run away, or even simply flee, and on top of it he is, say, a rapist, the law allows shooting at such a person on the leg, but not on the chest,” th Assam CM said, according to PTI.
“When someone asked me whether shooting incidents are becoming a pattern in the state, I replied that (shooting) should be the pattern if it involves a criminal trying to escape police custody,” Mr Sarma said.
However, speaking to media later, Mr Sarma said the police has no authority for shootouts. In a democracy, he said, crime must be fought through law.
“These (shootouts) happen only when there are no other means,” he said.
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