Guwahati, Sept. 15: The Gauhati High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by the families of three Hmar men who alleged that their relatives were victims of extrajudicial killings by Assam Police in July 2024. The petitioners had sought registration of FIRs, an independent probe, prosecution of police officials, and compensation of ₹1 crore each for the deceased.
The case stemmed from the deaths of Joshua Lalringson, Lalbiekkung, and Lallungawi, who were arrested from Ganganagar, Krishnapur Road in Cachar district on July 16, 2024, and later declared dead on July 17 following what the police described as a gunfight with militants at Bhuvan Hills.
Petitioners’ Allegations
Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the families, argued that video evidence and post-mortem reports clearly indicated that the three men were killed at close range after being held in custody. The petition alleged torture and pointed to inconsistencies between police claims and the forensic findings. Petitioners also contended that despite FIRs being emailed by family members, the police never registered them, raising fears of a cover-up.
Police’s Defence
In affidavits, Assam Police maintained that the deceased were armed militants carrying weapons at the time of arrest. They claimed the trio led security forces to a hideout where police came under fire from militants in the hills. During the crossfire, the three suspects, wearing bulletproof jackets, sustained grievous injuries and later died at Sonai Primary Health Centre. Police also stated that some personnel were injured and a cache of arms and ammunition was recovered.
Court’s Observations
The division bench of Justice Kalyan Rai Surana and Justice Susmita Phukan Khaund noted that while allegations of custodial killing could not be conclusively ruled out, the matter was already under investigation by an independent Additional SP from Hailakandi district and had also been referred to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The Court highlighted inconsistencies such as the nature of injuries revealed in post-mortem reports, which showed blackened wounds suggesting close-range firing, but refrained from making conclusive remarks since investigations were ongoing. The judges observed that only the three detainees sustained fatal injuries while police personnel suffered minor bruises, which raised doubts, but stressed that judicial intervention at this stage would be premature.
Verdict
Dismissing the petition, the High Court held that the families could renew their plea after the completion of the NHRC proceedings and ongoing investigations into Kachudaram PS Case Nos. 43/2024 and 44/2024.
“The petitioners are at liberty to file an appropriate application if they are still aggrieved on the culmination of the aforementioned cases,” the judgment stated.
The case has drawn widespread attention among tribal organisations and human rights groups, who continue to demand accountability and a transparent probe into the deaths.
